Bahrain This Month - April 2022

TECHNOLOGY - ENTERTAINMENT - DINING

Since 1997

April 2022 | Vol. 26

| Issue 4 | BD2 / SR20

YOUR GUIDE TO A GREAT WAY OF LIFE

RAMADAN SPECIAL PEOPLE

DINING

Pursuing art with Carlo L. Rico

The best of iftars and ghabgas

Moussa ‘Bino.Bah’ Badolo on his inspiring music

We review the Lemon Tree brunch

Sean Brereton’s take on football coaching

MOTORING

WTM

Kristian Harrison takes the Ferrari Roma for a spin

In conversation with Noor Nooruddin

The F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2022

Amy Vaya’s entrepreneurial success Ramadan Fashion

Motoring News

Beauty Essentials

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Arts

Culture

Clubs

Sports

Interviews

Lifestyle

Dining

Nightlife

Digital Edition

This Ramadan, treat yourself to something special with our sumptuous Iftar and Ghabga buffets, home catering options or Ghouzi-to-go.

Book yours now. +973 3605 7494 info@alareenpalace.com

@alareenpalaceandspa @alareenpalace.official

bystander

Spring of Culture 16th Edition The 16th edition of the Spring of

Culture held its premier debut at the state of the art Al Dana Amphitheatre, located in Sakhir.

The renowned singer Hussain Al Jassmi electrified the stage with his latest releases.

4 April 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

THE TEAM Publisher and Chairman George F. Middleton

Bahrain This Month April 2022

Editor Farah Baig Contributors Kristian Harrison, Pria Masson Tanwar, Ouiam Charkani El Hassani, Bill Grieve, Simran Tiwari Editorial Consultant Ahdeya Ahmed Print Production Manager Sabu Sebastian Art Director Hatem Monem Webmaster Nishad Eapen CRM & Database Coordinator Muna Yousef Staff Photographer Subeesh Kumar N S Administration and Finance Samson Vaz, Marlyn Ragasa Distribution Team CM Abdul Rahman, Gopal Arul Kumar Distributor Al Hilal Group (Hilal Direct Services)

Media Sales Director Anuradha Manhas anuradha@redhousemarketing.com Media Executive Kathleen Christabel kathleen@redhousemarketing.com DIGITAL & CONTENT MARKETING TEAM Digital Strategy Director Lini Reghunath Digital Marketing & Social Media Director Farah Baig Social Media Managers Simran Tiwari, Rohit Reghunath

Printing Press Union Press, Bahrain Published monthly by

M

arch was quite a busy month, so the opportunity to sit back and relax in a serene surrounding is very welcome this Ramadan.

While iftars and ghabgas are taking center stage this month, there are many events to attend and things to do in our Happenings section.

The Kingdom of Bahrain has long been home to some of the most talented and creative individuals, local and expatriate alike. At the ‘Transitions’ exhibition this month, we met the artist Carlo L. Rico who has a career in art that spans over thirty years. We also met Bino Bah, a truly unique Burkinabe musician who has been the talk of the town. He tells us about how he hopes to spread the message of peace, and address several pressing social issues through his music that covers genres including African blues, jazz, reggae and Mandingue too. Our final interviewee is the ambitious Sean Brereton, a football coach who is incorporating his dedicated philosophy into his coaching practices.

As part of World Health Day, Bill Grieve shines a light on a topic that is usually swept under the carpet – clinical disfigurement, and how to deal with it legally should you be a victim. In addition, the Founder and Director of The Dead Sea Revival Project, Noam Bedein, explains his findings following an eco-water exploration in the Kingdom of Bahrain, putting water conservation and sustainability at the forefront.

Bahrain’s brunches are ever-so-popular with the expatriate community, so we checked out Ramee Grand Hotel and Spa’s recently launched brunch at Lemon Tree. This Ramadan, you’ll find the ultimate list of iftars and ghabgas, hosted by leading hotels across the island, in our dining section. Expect the most lavish spreads of delectable desserts in spectacular settings.

In our motoring section, you’ll find Kristian Harrison’s post-race report on the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2022, in addition to his review of the Ferrari Roma. You can also stay in gear with the motoring industry through our news section. In our commerce section, Pria Masson Tanwar talks about how solving a consumer problem can lead to a successful business.

This Ramadan, our Woman This Month segment explores the exquisite offerings of celebrity designer, Pallavi Puri, as part of the fashion segment. This along with the carefully curated accessories to match should bring on some inspiration for your fashion choices this month.

Bahrain is home to several inspiring and multi-talented women. This month, we were pleased to interview two women who are making waves in the Kingdom, each in their own realm. Noor Nooruddin has a voice we all recognise from her show on Radio Bahrain, but there’s so much more to her which we were happy to find out! Amy Vaya, on the other hand, tells us about her pursuit of her entrepreneurial dream and how she struck gold with her winning concept.

Aside from these inspiring women, our team brings you the best of beauty products, skincare essentials, recipes and parenting advice too!

RED HOUSE MARKETING P.O. Box 20461, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: (+973) 17 813-777, Fax: (+973) 17 813-700 Email: info@redhousemarketing.com www.bahrainthismonth.com © Copyright Reserved 2005-2020 The concept, content, style and design of this publication remain the exclusive property of Red House Marketing (Jersey) Ltd. and must not be reproduced in any form whatsoever without prior written permission. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However, Red House Marketing cannot accept legal responsibility for any error or omission.

• Views expressed in this magazine by journalists and writers are not necessarily those of the publishers of Bahrain This Month.

Licensed by the Ministry of Information Publication Code: TA001 ISBN 1 899 348 09 3

1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION Bahrain: BD24

It’s an issue with plenty for you to look forward to, so needless to say, Bahrain This Month will always be your guide to a great way of life!

COVER Cover Picture:

Ramadan

George F. Middleton Publisher and Chairman

Scan this QR Code to subscribe to the digital edition of the magazine.

Gulf and international subscriptions available on request.

www.bahrainthismonth.com www.womanthismonth.com

April 2022

5

APRIL ISSUE 296

INTERVIEW

CONTENTS

14

A Stroke of Genius

16

Man on a Mission

18

Talented musician, Moussa ‘Bino.Bah’ Badolo, talks about his quest to bring about social change through his music.

On the Path to Greatness

Head Coach and Founder of 24N Football Academy, Sean Brereton, tells us how they stand out from the rest.

FEATURES

20

Saving the Dead Sea

22

Every Woman’s Nightmare

Bill Grieve narrates the story of a woman dealing with clinical disfigurement, and tells you what to do should you have the misfortune of being a victim.

20

We head to Lemon Tree at Ramee Grand Hotel and Spa for a family-friendly brunch

Ramadan Kareem!

Check out our guide to the biggest and best iftars and ghabgas at Bahrain’s finest hotels this Holy Month.

34

When in Roma!

36

A Race to Remember!

26

34

36

42

Our motoring journalist, Kristian Harrison, gets behind the wheel of the phenomenal Ferrari Roma for a sensational test drive.

Bahrain thrills fans both, on and off-track, during the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2022. Here’s our post-race report.

Motoring News

COMMERCE

40 42

22

18

A Zest for Brunch at Lemon Tree

MOTORING FEATURE

38

14

Founder and Director of The Dead Sea Revival Project, Noam Bedein, explains his findings following the completion of his recent eco-water exploration in Bahrain

DINING

25 26

16

We speak to the supremely talented, visual artist Carlo L. Rico who has been teaching and creating spectacular art for over 30 years.

Find a Fresh Angle

Pria Masson Tanwar talks about how solving a consumer problem can lead to a successful business.

Business News

6 April 2022

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bhthismonth

www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

LPOD Opening Season 2022 The Lost Paradise of Dilmun held a ribbon cutting ceremony to launch its Opening Season 2022.

IFTAR & GHABGA AT

THE LOST PARADISE OF DILMUN WATER PARK

IFTAR SET MENU BD

10

Daily from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

GHABGA

(LIVE COOKING STATIONS)

BD

12

Daily from 9:00pm to 1:00am SPECIAL PRICE FOR GROUP BOOKING

www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

April 2022 7

APRIL 52

56

ISSUE 228

CONTENTS

FASHION

52

Modest, Elegant and Luxurious…

Exploring celebrity fashion designer Pallavi Puri’s opulent designs, and the perfect embellishments to complement the look this holy month.

INTERVIEW

58

56

Putting the Face to the Voice!

Noor Nooruddin is a lot of things to a lot of people, but most of the community knows her as a writer, radio host, presenter and doting wife. We find out where Noor gets her zest for all things creative and fun.

58

Striking Gold We speak to My Gold Souq co-founder, Amy Vaya, about her family history, and her journey to conceptualising the award-winning business.

65

In Her Shoes

65 60

64

Harpreet Kaur We take a peek into the life of Head of Cluster Marketing at Ramee Group of Hotels, Harpreet Kaur.

BEAUTY

60

Ramadan Beauty Essentials A selection of products that will have you looking and feeling fresh this holy month.

64

Restorative Skincare!

5 products to detox, restore and renew your skin.

LIFESTYLE

63 63 www.womanthismonth.com womanthismonth 8

April 2022

62

PARENTING

62 rhmbahrain

Scrumptious Spring Salads These easy-to-make salads are an excellent option for lunch or dinner any time of the week.

How to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids.

Ouiam El Hassani tells us how we can raise emotionally intelligent children. www.womanthismonth.com

bystander

Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day The Down Syndrome Society held an event at Mövenpick Bahrain for the children to gather and have fun in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day. One of the most important objectives of the day is to raise people’s awareness about Down Syndrome and how it occurs, as well as to raise awareness of the role of the children and the importance of their integration in the community.

DR. MOHAMAD AHMAD Consultant - Orthopedic Spine Surgeon

Lebanese Orthopaedic Association

Clinical Expertise • Cervical Spine Disease • Lumbar Degenerative Disease • Traumatic Spine Injuries • Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis • Adult Traumatic Conditionsy

1724 6800

Comprehensive Orthopedic Care

1724 6888 3218 1810 Royal Bahrain Hospital

www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

April 2022 9

happenings

APRIL HAPPENINGS GLOWING GERGA’ON APRIL 16

FLUORESCENT GERGA'ON CANDYLAND

BREATHE IN AND RELAX THE ART SCENE, RIFFA

If you love candy and art, this is your chance to showcase your creativity. This Ramadan, stop by The Art Scene for a gerga›on-themed art workshop with Maryam (@melancholyart), where you›ll learn how to create a fluorescent and mystical candy-land inspired by much-anticipated annual festival. This workshop is priced at BD15.

Follow @artscene.bh on Instagram or call 38 010-011.

SHOP TILL YOU DROP! APRIL 8-9

BAHRAIN POPUP MARKET

BEACH YOGA WITH ANTARA BANIKYA

WATER GARDEN CITY

Immerse yourself in a unique and relaxing yoga session surrounded by the rhythmic flow of the waves crashing at Water Garden City Beach with Antara Banikya. The light breeze and the aroma of saltwater will help you relax, focus and clear your thoughts. Expect to experience yoga like you never have before. These weekly sessions are available for BD5. Kindly call ahead for information on the weekly class.

Call 39 884-670.

MUSIC TO OUR EARS! EL BALCOŃ

The Bahrain PopUp Market has returned! Don’t miss out on this amazing market to buy all your Ramadan and Eid essentials. They have a beautiful collection of Abayas, exquisite fragrances, decorative teapots, specially curated fashion pieces and more! You can expect to find everything you need under one roof. Pop by El Balcoń from 8 PM onwards to check it out!

Follow @thepopupshop.co_ on Instagram.

10 April 2022

WEEKLY

MAY 3

AHLAM AL SHAMSI

AL DANA AMPHITHEATRE

Make this Eid one to remember with Ahlam Al Shamsi, the renowned Emirati superstar of the Arab music industry. She will perform a range of fan favourites live at the stunning Al Dana Amphitheatre. Ahlam has played to sold-out crowds all over the world, garnering millions of admirers worldwide, including in the United States and United Kingdom.

Ahlam, who is known for her remarkable melodic vocals, has recorded 13 albums and countless singles, all of which have gained recognition.

Visit www.aldana.com.bh www.bahrainthismonth.com/events

happenings bystander

Tennis Grand Slam Reception The Royal Beach Club held a cocktail reception at Vivir, after the Championship Games at the 2022 The Ritz-Carlton, Bentley Tennis Grand Slam.

www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery www.bahrainthismonth.com/events

April 2022 2022 11 11 April

happenings

PIECE IT TOGETHER DAILY

THE ART OF MOSAIC

RUN FOR A GOOD CAUSE! THE MOSAIC HOUSE, BUDAIYA

Looking for a fun and therapeutic activity? The Mosaic House is perfect for visitors to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of mosaics. It is an expressive, contemplative, therapeutic art form that is enjoyed by children and adults alike. Explore your creativity by working with a variety of materials, adhesives, substrates, tiles, and grouts to create indoor/outdoor mosaics. It›s the ideal gift for a loved one, a stunning piece of decor, and an intriguing art form. Mosaic House is open from 9 AM to 5 PM every day.

Call 39 253-943.

WE WALK AUTISM WALKATHON

THE LAGOON, AMWAJ ISLANDS

Lace up your shoes for “We Walk!” This World Autism Month, take a step forward to raise awareness about Autism with the Bahrain Society for Children with Behavioral & Communication Difficulties. Everyone is welcome to participate. Whether you have autism, love someone who does, or are looking to support a diverse, inclusive and caring community, this is the place to be.

All funds collected will go towards the establishment of the Alia Rehabilitation Center which will be located in A’Ali. Alia Comprehensive Autism Center will be a community leader providing a unique blend of ABA therapies and in- center to build critical socialisation skills in student development. ‘We Walk’ will take place from 8:30 PM onwards in The Lagoon, Amwaj. The registration fee for this event is BD 1 for adults and BD 0.500 for children.

For more information please contact +973 39 851-508.

12 April 2022

RUN FOR RAMADAN

BAHRAIN HARBOUR

Ladies, get ready to run! Join ‘Run for Ramadan’, hosted by Lettuce Run in collaboration with A Box of Goodness to raise food donations for the needy. Women are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items, which will also be counted as a registration fee. Show your support for Bahraini and expatriate families that are in need of food from 4.30 PM onwards.

Follow @lettuce.run on Instagram.

GET READY TO PARTY

SHOW SOME LOVE APRIL 8

APRIL 5

MAY 3

COCOON BAHRAIN

VIDA BEACH RESORT BAHRAIN

0This Eid, the world›s leading party brand and record label is coming to Bahrain! Get ready for an unforgettable experience filled with exceptional music, breathtaking views and more. The line-up for this event will be spectacular as cocoon is the gem of Ibiza and known for the best of electronic music. Cocoon Bahrain organised by Mindset Media will be hosted at the picturesque beach resort which will be having several room packages available on the occasion.

Visit www.mindsetmedia.bh.

www.bahrainthismonth.com/events

bystander

Al Haddad Motors - Topaz Detailing Founders Event

Al Haddad Motors held an event to mark the visit of the founders of Topaz Detailing, Nabil Naamo and Mazin Naamo, to the Topaz Detailing studio in Bahrain.

www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

April 2022 13

interview

A STROKE OF GENIUS

A

rt has a way of alleviating stress, whether you’re creating it yourself or admiring the work of others. Colours, textures and brushstrokes when intertwined with a love for art, eye for detail and dedicated time can achieve phenomenal results.

The Filipino Creatives Bahrain Art Group recently held an art exhibition, ‘Transition – Journey to Embracing the New Normal’ under the auspices of the Philippines Embassy at the Oasis Mall in Juffair. The exhibition showcased the artists’ interpretations of adjusting to a post-pandemic world.

It was there that we were captivated by an ethereal painting depicting a woman with a pristine, yet emotionless mask. The man behind the painting was none other than Carlo L. Rico, a passionate visual artist who has spent the last three decades, not only creating exquisite paintings, but imparting his knowledge of art to upcoming artists through workshops and more.

“This painting is a philosophical interpretation of wearing a mask during the pandemic. By the time the woman decided to take off the mask, 14 April 2022

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s is known across the region for being a hub for creatives of all forms. This month, Simran Tiwari met with the supremely talented, renowned visual artist Carlo L. Rico who has been teaching and creating spectacular art for over 30 years.

her true form is revealed – that of an angel. It is reflective of us finding and discovering ourselves throughout the pandemic,” explains Mr. Rico.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Mr. Rico always had a keen interest in art for which he would receive countless awards. “I decided to pursue architecture in university, but soon realised it really wasn’t my passion, so I shifted to fine art,” he says. “Following my graduation, I moved to the United States where I worked as a visual artist and graphic designer.”

He stated that he had also lived in Qatar and Saudi Arabia before moving to the Kingdom of Bahrain. “Working in these countries with culturally diverse teams, including some people from parts of Asia, has given me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of art,” he says.

His art merges classic and contemporary styles, but primarily includes portraits, which he believes is the highest form of art, and figures.

“I’ve always wanted to be unique, so I accomplished this by adding modern elements to classic pieces and am constantly learning.

Some of the mediums I work with are charcoal and oil paint as it takes a lot of time and

patience. I also work with soft pastels and do a lot of sketching,” he says.

“I draw inspiration for my art from my reflections on life, how I deal with everyday situations, and my interactions with people I meet,” he adds.

Reflecting on Bahrain’s art scene, Carlo says he believes that most artists here tend to stick to modern and abstract art. “Classic art is more intense and intricate, so I prefer focusing on the details as abstract art isn’t that difficult. I’d rather strengthen the techniques and basics as abstract forms don’t showcase as much skill,” he elaborates.

“My advice to new and upcoming artists is that they should never stop equipping themselves with knowledge and information. They must challenge themselves, discover more and even work on more typical subjects,” he stresses.

After taking on art professionally, he soon realised the extent to which it sparked joy in him. “There was a time that I tried taking myself out of this field, but I’ve always had a deep connection with art – it’s been a part of my heart and soul,” he concludes. www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

Perric Dubois’ 50th Birthday Party A Birthday Party was held for Perric Dubois’ milestone 50th birthday at his residence. The memorable event was attended by close friends and family.

Ramadan Kareem

Kitchen Appliances

Prepare homemade healthy Iftar with Philips

Get your favorite Philips Home Appliances on

shop.fakhroo.com www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

+973 39 46 10 24 April 2022 15

interview

MAN ON A MUSICAL MISSION T

Music has long been known to be an international language that is capable of inspiring change. Bahrain-based burkinabè musician Bino.Bah has a conversation with Farah Baig, about his will to bring about positive change through his music.

he Kingdom of Bahrain has a long-standing history of welcoming people of all cultures and religions to its shores. The island has proven be a safe haven for every community, with its welcoming nature and diverse society proving to be a source of inspiration for many. The result is a melting pot of creatives including musicians and artists that find Bahrain to be a creative muse of sorts.

Last month, Alliance Francaise Bahrain held an event to celebrate the French language while acknowledging and celebrating cultural differences between Frenchspeaking countries. Ahead of the event, we met with Moussa Kouasso Badolo, better known by his stage name Bino.Bah, a talented musician hailing from the West African country of Burkina Faso who would be representing his country.

Where It All Started Recounting his journey as a musician, the young burkinabè shares that his childhood was marked by the daily harsh realities of Africa, which propelled him towards an untypical course for an artist. “I have been immersed in music since I was just a child, starting my musical journey at church when I was six. Over the years, I attended several musical and vocal development workshops through the church which developed my skills as a musician,” explains Bino.Bah. “Professionally, I dreamed of becoming a doctor and was attending scientific studies but had to give up on this dream,” he says gently.

In 2010, Bino enrolled in the police academy where he ultimately moved towards Sports, Arts and Culture of the Police – a step that would lead to him being an established musician in his native land. “I had reestablished the police orchestra and filmed educational music videos for civilians to encourage civism and raise awareness,” he explains.

Bino.Bah’s love for music found him delving into a range of genres that were supported by his African roots. “However, being a musician at heart, I decided to go on leave for two years so 16 April 2022

I may travel the world, meet more people and broaden my horizons. Music is my life and so I had to go,” he quips.

New Beginnings Having first visited Bahrain in November 2019, Bino was moved by the warm welcome of the Bahraini people and soon found the inspiration for his first solo album, AURORE, which translates to ‘sunrise’ – an album which would signify the ray of hope and renewal presented by every morning. “When I visited the Kingdom, I felt a deep connection with it… and I’m not just saying that because I now live here. It’s peaceful and you form a bond with everyone you meet. It’s safe, you do not find people fighting and it’s just one of those places that you could hear plenty about but ultimately have to experience for yourself to truly understand it,” he elaborates.

Since establishing himself in the Kingdom, Bino.Bah has performed at the outdoor venue Wagalag among others to crowds that have grown to enjoy his music, which is quite new to Bahrain. “The genres covered in my album include blues, African blues, reggae and Afro Mandingue – an unusually peaceful and healing genre of music which originated in

Mali,” he states.

Addressing Tough Topics While pursuing his passion for music has proved to be fulfilling, the burkinabè singer, guitarist and composer highlights that he is on a mission to raise awareness about his country and pressing societal issues. “The inspiration for my music comes from my daily life – problems that we deal with, conversations that we have and real issues that have to be brought to light,” he says.

Most people would find the topics that Bino addresses in his music to be uncomfortable, or perhaps unapproachable. “I sing about social injustice, access to education, female genital mutilation (FMCG),

Picture by: Summer Ameen

www.bahrainthismonth.com

interview

respect of family values, the agricultural decline and the survival of farmers. All around the world, farmers are some of the least appreciated and poorest of people, but this is abnormal as they are literally feeding the planet.

How can we not appreciate them?” he says, adding that 80 percent of the population in Burkina Faso is engaged in agriculture.

“In addition, I believe that awareness has to be raised regarding FMCG as it is a real problem in my country.

Young girls are put at the risk of disease, are unable to have children or have problems when giving birth due to the practice. And, of course, it has a psychological impact and touches the integrity of these girls. It has to be alleviated and every African musician must address the issue,” he stresses.

His poetic compositions also address children’s right to an education. His commitment to the cause is reflected in his hometown where he plays a pivotal role through scholarships for underprivileged children and initiatives to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Poverty affects the youth who are unable to go to school at times, but whether a child is rich or poor, they deserve to be given access to education.

80 percent of people in Burkina Faso cannot read or write and this must change as they are gifted,” he says.

“It’s important to bring a vision of hope to these people because life is www.bahrainthismonth.com

difficult there and I intend to add value to them and have them be recognised on a global scale. They need hope,” he says.

A Voice for the People While societal issues are the beating heart of his music, Bino.Bah also intends to raise awareness about Burkina Faso on a large scale. “This is why I am proud to represent my country through this event in Bahrain and intend to do so to the best of my abilities and with dignity. I want people to learn more about it and understand how gifted its people are,” he says.

Burkina Faso is known to be the capital of African cinema and hosts large culture and handicrafts festivals annually which are attended by international visitors.

“Most people may not know this, but my people are very gifted with their hands. In fact, we have a festival to highlight their craftsmanship which includes unique bronze statues,” he says.

Bino Bah, a victor of change, hopes to inspire change and promote peace through his music. “People must avoid discrimination at all costs. It is rampant, but with discrimination people are denied well deserved opportunities and we can never experience true peace.

The differences are only aesthetic; people need to notice the similarities and work towards togetherness,” he concludes.

Bino Bah hopes to perform at more events across the island to raise awareness for his causes and educate the masses on the talents of the burkinabè. If you would like to learn more about Bino.bah, follow him on Instagram using the handle @bino.bah_officiel.

April 2022 17

interview

ON THE PATH TO GREATNESS

Football is the most popular sport in the world, with millions of children wanting to emulate their heroes and develop their skills. With a number of soccer schools offering their services in Bahrain, 24N Football Academy is aiming to stand out from the rest with a dedicated philosophy and a passionate coaching team to foster the superstars of tomorrow. Kristian Harrison spoke to Head Coach and Founder, Sean Brereton, to find out more.

S

ince the age of 16, Sean Brereton knew he wanted to be a football coach. Not only that, he wanted to nurture young talent in a way that was different – and better – than anywhere else whilst being a role model both on-and-off the pitch.

After years of hard work and learning his trade from various influences and cultures, he has finally achieved his dream of opening his own coaching school in Bahrain: 24N Football Academy.

“In a nutshell, 24N wants to provide the best coaching and the best service for players in the Kingdom,” he says. “From the age of three right through to teenage years and being on the brink of adult football, we want the children with us to understand that they are in a professional environment with mutual respect.

“We want them to be able to ask questions and challenge themselves in a safe atmosphere where we both can develop and grow. As much as they are learning and improving their playing ability, we are gaining just as much knowledge with every session and progressing ourselves.

“Ultimately, ‘development’ is the cornerstone of my philosophy. I feel like the greatest mistake when it comes to coaching is the focus on results over performance, especially with younger age groups. Children these days are saddled with too much responsibility to win, a directive issued by their coaches, which not only knocks their confidence if they lose, but limits their freedom to express themselves and play to their abilities.

“Nothing gives me more pride than development, such as seeing a kid starting out and not being able to shoot properly, then a few weeks later hit a sweet strike into the goal. Doing this in an environment of mutual respect where selfishness and frustration is left at the door encapsulates what 24N is trying to accomplish.”

Now 29, Sean’s career began at 16 when he took part in some voluntary coaching as part 18 April 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com

interview

of a course at school and instantly took a shine to it. He completed a university degree in Events Management and helped to organise sports events, the highlight of which was a football-music hybrid festival.

During this period, he was asked to help coach an under-16s team, which he did for two years either side of a year coaching under-18s.

Working so closely with grassroots football and other coaches was the catalyst for him starting to carve his own path. He also obtained his UEFA C licence and Tovo qualification during this time.

“My plan after that was to go to Australia and coach,” Sean explains. “However, this fell through and I decided to come and visit my brother who already lived in Bahrain and did some volunteer coaching with another football academy while I was here. I really enjoyed it; being part of an actual academy full-time with so many age groups was an incredible experience. I learnt so much in such a short period of time.”

After three years with the Bahrain-based academy, Sean was offered a job at a professional club in England. However, he ultimately decided to turn it down for various reasons.

Faced with a crossroads and unable to return to the job he’d left in Bahrain, he briefly considered taking up another profession, with teaching at the forefront of his mind. However, upon returning to Bahrain to take stock, he did a few one-to-one coaching sessions with younger children and realised he could take this concept and expand it. Renewed with a sense of determination, he came up with a business plan to nurture younger footballers, including under-6s and under-8s, with a goal to develop them over a longer period of time.

“What I believe is that you are a product of your environment,” he says. “I was happy doing things my way without a results-focused www.bahrainthismonth.com

directive and what I perceived to be negative attitudes towards coaching and how it should be done. I spent an incredible amount of time discovering new aspects of coaching, and gained a more critical eye of how things were being run, especially in Bahrain.

“I knew then that I would do things my own way from then on, and 24N is an encapsulation of my coaching philosophy. However, before I set it up, I needed a bit of help.”

This is where 24N came in. Originally a British company in Saudi Arabia which specialises in high-end fitness services and employs some of the most talented coaches and personal trainers in the Middle East, 24N gave Sean the help and opportunity to move forward and help the academy grow into a fully-functioning operation, allowing it to take to the pitch officially in November 2021.

Professionalism is a vital component of 24N, and so every child no matter what age group is given an Individual Development Plan (IDP) and a report every six weeks. This mainly focuses on the positives of each child’s footballing growth, but also one area where there can be improvement, such as psychological, social, physical or technical.

From ages three to 12, this is given to the parents, but from 13 and above these are discussed with the players themselves as they have the maturity to take it on board.

create fun and energetic sessions. The main aspect of how we build a player, and what it all essentially boils down to, is the three Cs: Cognition, Competence and Character.”

It is not only the children who are constantly improving, though. Sean believes that his own personal growth has been almost as important as that of his young charges.

He explains: “I’ve loved every minute of my job since I took it on. It was a bit of a risk at first but I’m so glad it paid off with innumerable benefits physically and mentally. Arguably the greatest aspect is that I’m still constantly learning and adapting.”

“I am hugely grateful to the people at 24N who helped me achieve my dream of leading an academy, and also to all those who allow us to use their pitches and facilities to coach.”

Outside of his work with youngsters, Sean is also the hugely respected volunteer coach of the Janabiyah Juggernauts, a men’s amateur team who last month clinched the Bahrain Amateur Football League title. This is another impressive string to his bow, showing that with a strong ambition, fierce determination and a solid philosophy, anything is achievable.

For more information on 24N Football Academy, email sean@24nriyadh.com or Whatsapp +973 36 228-055. Alternatively, you can follow @24n_football on Instagram

Most importantly, though, is that 24N’s carefully curated curriculum makes football fun and engaging.

Sean explains: “In our curriculum, each child should learn a skill per term, and so as they progress through the academy they learn a variety of skills and eventually master them.

Once they have the required skillset is when we actually transition to more tactical work and the deeper elements of the game.

“I’d say my biggest influences are actually from Croatia and Wales, which I’ve spun together to April 2022 19

interview

SAVING THE DEAD SEA A Bridge to the Endangered Water Treasures of Bahrain

Founder and Director of The Dead Sea Revival Project, Noam Bedein, recently completed an ecowater exploration in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He recounts his journey and explains his findings.

R

ecently, I have returned from an ecowater exploration journey of the second Arab state in the Middle East that recently signed normalisation agreements with Israel - the Kingdom of Bahrain.

I concluded the first year of the Abraham Accords by exploring and building relations across the UAE. Thanks to the Bahrain Embassy in Tel Aviv that connected this writer to professionals and key officials in the kingdom who examine the ocean, water and environment conservation, this enabled exploration of the kingdom in an environmentally focused manner, creating an unmediated encounter with key Bahrainis.

I learned firsthand about the historical water-cultural identity, which was lost in some ways to the average Bahraini. It became immediately apparent that the challenge to save the Dead Sea could create empathy with the locals on a deeper level, referring to Bahrain›s lost water treasures and resources which are in great need of protection and rehabilitation.

In the long run, a Middle East alliance for water sustainability can have a positive impact on saving the Dead Sea, which is lacking regional cooperation. Just go back to the Israel-Jordan-UAE energy-water deal breaker, which brought the Middle East one step closer to Saving the Dead Sea, impacting its water sources.

I arrived in Bahrain on February 14th, which happened to be the day that the Israeli Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, made a historic visit to the King of Bahrain, HM

20 April 2022

King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, and the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Bahrain- Between Two Seas Throughout history, Bahrain has been called the «Land of Immortality» or «the Great Paradise››, as it was known for its freshwater springs and palm tree fields. The name of Bahrain in Arabic means ‘between two seas’.

Two types of water surround the land, freshwater and saltwater.

The Kingdom of Bahrain has deep roots in the past, dating back more than 5,000 years, as it has been home to many cultures as well as a vital link between cultures, making it a commercial center and a sea crossing point between East and West, strategically located in the Arabian Gulf. Bahrain has been well known since ancient times for its pearling industry.

Bahrain’s Water Challenges Today Today, Bahrain is among the top ten countries in the world that could suffer from a water crisis in the next 25 years. The Kingdom of Bahrain is an arid state that has been declared by the UN agencies since the 1950s to be accepted as a water-scarce region.

The Kingdom of Bahrain, despite being the smallest

in the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), contains one of the highest population densities in the world and its population is growing, while it contains the lowest freshwater resources in the world, which affects the availability of freshwater. The share of fresh water among the population of Bahrain is declining.

It was fascinating to explore Bahrain›s futuristic urban communities that address some of these challenges. Durrat Al Bahrain is the second largest artificial island in the country and the development of a marina of this project is the first of its kind and the largest in the Middle East!

The USD7 billion mega-islands project is expected to accommodate up to 60,000 residents and another 5,000 visitors daily upon completion.

Bahrain’s Ocean and Marine Conservation Today, there are no rivers, streams flowing continuously or lakes. The country obtains groundwater from the lateral flow of the Dammam aquifer.

Accelerated economic development and population growth along with mega projects built in Bahrain in recent decades, have increased the demand for water, as groundwater is used as the only natural water resource supported by desalination facilities. More water is expected to www.bahrainthismonth.com

interview

be extracted from the reservoirs to meet the growing demands for domestic, agricultural and industrial needs that will cause an increase in salinity due to the intrusion of more saline water from the sea.

In recent decades, extensive coastal development has been carried out in the Arabian Gulf that has included excavations, restoration, shutdown projects, underwater piping facilities and extensive pollution. These are the main factors in the displacement of corals across the bay, which has had a devastating impact on the marine living environment.

In recent years a questionnaire has been distributed among students of the National University of Bahrain. 85 percent of the population involved in the study were unaware of the serious water problems and thought that since Bahrain is an island, water should not be a problem.

Although there are many challenges to Bahrain›s ocean and marine conservation, the immediate need is to create environmentalwater awareness and water-sustainability education which must be supported by the Kingdom. In order to reach sustainable

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solutions, the mass public needs to care first and foremost.

Reef Arabia One of the highlights of the eco-trip to Bahrain was engaging marine biologists from Reef Arabia, who are constantly developing practical reduction and compensation solutions to deal with the severe impacts on the Gulf, with the task of planning, building and deploying artificial reefs.

Reef Arabia has suggested that an artificial reef can do more than provide a utilitarian habitat for fish species. When properly designed, it blends in with the environment in a natural and aesthetic way. They combine their vast knowledge in the ecology of the Arabian Gulf with innovative methodologies for the production of concrete reefs, which integrate naturally and beautifully in the absorbing environment.

Halel Engineer, director and manager of Reef Arabia, is also one the kingdom’s main consultants and leaders of ocean and marine conservation in Bahrain. Halel grew up with the Bahrain Ambassador to Israel, HH. Khaled Yousif al-Jalahma, who initially connected us.

Eitan Na›eh and an official meeting at the Bahrain Supreme Council for Environment, I summarised my ecological journey across Bahrain with the challenge now to promote cooperation between the countries starting with the development and branding of the Kingdom›s environmental tourism which can serve as a local outdoor educational motivator, and to take part of the regional ecotourism infrastructure to increase international delegation visits.

Such a development will drive more cooperation between Israel and Bahrain in the context of preserving the water environment and sustainability, with the hope to promote solutions for the preservation of water treasures connected to the heritage and identity of our people.

Noam Bedein is a Photojournalist, Environmental-Arts Activist and International Speaker.

He is also the Director & Founder of the NGO The Dead Sea Revival Project.

Bedein’s work has been recognised by; CNN, National Geographic, NASA and The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.

Meeting with Israeli Ambassador to Bahrain

April 2022 21

health feature

EVERY WOMAN’S NIGHTMARE

“I trusted them and they disfigured my face.” –

These are the words of a woman who was disfigured at a cosmetology clinic in Bahrain. Bill Grieve narrates her story, advises you on how to prevent the same from happening to you, and empowers you with the tools and information to seek justice should you have the misfortune of being a victim.

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round the world, but more so in the Middle East, a woman’s face is her personal treasure - admired daily, displayed, shown off, treated, handled with care, and looked after with tenderness and caution.

Women look at their faces every day and know every spot, dot, and line, and at times might consider a minor correction or enhancement to further enhance their

“

beauty. Most women use the services of reputable skin treatment centers who have experienced and skilled specialists who have studied, trained, and understand what they are doing and use internationallyproven equipment to enhance facial features, correct blemishes and scarring and effectively meet patient’s expectations.

These are the true skin specialists who have the skill, intelligence, and training to meet

The great pity is that everybody seems to know somebody who has endured this unnecessary clinical disfigurement pain and suffering at the hands of a medical ‘specialist’ who thinks they know what they are doing when the results speak for themselves and show otherwise”.

22 April 2022

their client’s needs and fulfill their undertakings.

But woe betide those many women who turn unsuspectingly to the rogue and maverick charlatans of the trade only to bear the brunt of broken promises, poor treatment due to inexperience, lack of training, arrogance or sheer ignorance and suffer clinical disfigurement, scarring, pain, and humiliation as a result.

Elliana is one such unfortunate patient who, working directly with the public and reliant on her presentation and grooming which is also an employment requirement, chose a skin treatment “specialist” to rectify minor childhood acne scarring only to find herself in the worst predicament possible - a badly disfigured face from a poorly effected treatment involving micro needling using a derma tool.

Elliana had saved up for the treatment and asked a physician at the clinic she attended for general hair removal laser treatment for advice on the minor acne scarring she wanted to fix. After a paid assessment appointment, the doctor convinced her that using an FDA approved micro needling ‘derma pen’ treatment would produce optimum results.

Elliana attended her appointment in good faith anticipating a good outcome, however this anticipation was short lived. On the day of the scheduled treatment Elliana began to feel that she was not being appropriately handled, the doctor was “late”, numbing cream was applied and left on far www.bahrainthismonth.com

health feature longer than she was advised it would be, she was left isolated and began to feel uncomfortable. When the treatment started, Elliana felt as though the doctor was gouging into her face and bruising it with the instrument and cried out several times in pain at the unnecessary brutal application of the derma tool. The doctor announced that this was normal and continued unabated. After the session, Elliana was told to apply her own hydrating cream and take an oral OTC painkiller.

The day after the treatment Elliana woke up in pain, looked in the mirror - and burst into tears.

Her beautiful face had been transformed for the worse – a far cry from what she was hoping the outcome would be. Crying and emotional her head spinning she thought to herself: “How will I go to work looking like this?”, “What will my husband say when he sees me?”, “What will the other girls and company staff say when they see me?”, “Will I be suspended?”, “What will I do?!”. This was the stuff nightmares are made of and totally unexpected, but worse was yet to come the full effects of the derma treatment were still to surface. Over the next four weeks Elliana suffered pain, humiliation, embarrassment, and a personal identity crisis and became afraid to show her face. COVID-19 allowed her to cover her face in public over the ensuing months -

her only saving grace in the whole ordeal.

“Take photographs every 6 hours and keep a timeline” was the professional advice given and that’s exactly what Elliana did. It photographs, did not have a brochure on the was these photographs that made up the treatment being carried out, and hadn’t main evidence used to formulate a court honestly and accurately described the standard complaint to the treatment, its effects National Health Regulatory and long term Authority (NHRA), followed problems that could by advice from a leading The aim of my occur. The doctor had lawyer, a criminal been complacent, complaint is to prevent disfigurement complaint to lacked empathy and the police too especially this happening to other consideration and when it came to light that women - what would made Elliana feel as the medical center did not have happened to me if though she was have a signed consent form inferior.

I was not able to afford for the derma treatment, did not take any beforehand recovery treatment is

Elliana’s saga rumbles on legally and having attended a broad number of sessions and spent a large sum of money on facial skin rectification treatment at an internationally-renowned and acclaimed skin treatment center, Elliana has gradually recovered back to almost where she started. Although her skin is only now in a similar state to what it was when she underwent the maverick medical treatment, she is satisfied that she is in good hands this time.

Amazingly, once Elliana was brave enough to make the problem known almost all the girls and women she was in contact with, recounted similar personal experiences or knew someone who had suffered at the hands of a rogue dermatologist. This seemed to be the ‘elephant in the room’ that everyone knew about, but no one was doing anything about - the dark secret that festers below the surface in the field of medical treatment.

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too awful to contemplate - in my job my face is everything”.

So, how can you prevent this happening?

•

Ask around beforehand - ask in online groups and search for/look at referrals and complaints.

•

Ask if the physician has qualified on the equipment to be used and holds a valid training credential and has experience.

•

Ask for details of and verification that the equipment to be used is approved for use by the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA).

•

Ask if there have been any complaints against the doctor or medical clinic involved.

• •

Request full details of the treatment in writing or a brochure.

Consider not signing a consent form unless you are 100 percent satisfied that the doctor is capable and the medical center appropriately registered, licensed and authorised to conduct the skin treatment.

What to do if you become a victim:

•Take good, clear photographs, in the same position daily, at around the same time.

•Create a timeline of events and make careful notes about what happened/ happens as well as time spent/costs involved.

•Seek the services of a good, well reputed lawyer who specialises in this type of legal activity.

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•

Consult the NHRA (National Health Regulatory Authority) Complaints Page on the NHRA website.

•

Report the matter to the regulator and the police if appropriate.

•

Seek rectification treatment from a reputable skin clinic or doctor even if it costs more.

April 2022 23

bystander

Transition Art Exhibition The opening night of the art exhibition, ‘TRANSITION - Journey to Embracing the New Normal’, was held at Oasis Mall

Juffair. The event was organised by the Filipino Creatives Bahrain under the auspices of the Philippine Embassy in Manama. Thirty-nine Filipino, Bahraini, and Bahrainbased visual artists collaborated to come up with a grand art exhibition with the aim to spread positivity and inspiration through arts, in a world affected by the pandemic.

Plastic Bottle Recycling Device Launch The Capital Governorate held the launch of a plastic bottles recycling device at Marriott Executive Apartments Manama, as part of the Manama Healthy City programme.

24 April 2022

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h c n u r B r o e f e t r s T e A Z at Lemon

dining

el

nd Hot a r G e e am ree at R brunch.

T n o m e L ndly eaded to ular family-frie h ig a B Farah for a spectac and Spa

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runch has grown to be one of the Kingdom’s most sought-after dining experiences. What’s made the experience so appealing to residents and visitors alike is the fact that you can dress up in your best attire, head out with your family or friends, enjoy a lavish spread and live entertainment all while being able to sleep in for the better part of a Friday morning.

This month, we were thrilled to hear that Ramee Grand Hotel and Spa was launching its brunch at the Lemon Tree Restaurant. The thought of being able to enjoy a brunch in the heart of Seef was appealing enough, but setting our eyes on the spread and enjoying the ambience made it all the more special. On walking into the restaurant, you can’t help but notice how welcoming the atmosphere is with sunlight beaming in through its floor-toceiling windows, and live music courtesy of the talented singer and violinist duo.

On scouring the spread we set our eyes on the www.bahrainthismonth.com

selection of soups and salads. We helped ourselves to a bowl of decadent cream of mushroom soup and a healthy serving of salads which included sliced cheese, greens, baba ghanouj and other cold mezzas, and freshly made bread. For our appetisers, we helped ourselves to some delicious sushi, flavourful garlic prawns and crisp chicken tenders. Next, we helped ourselves to some freshly sliced roast duck with a generous drizzle of gravy. The duck was perfectly cooked - succulent and bursting with flavour.

The crowning glory of the Lemon Tree brunch is the fact that they have a range of live cooking stations for pasta, eggs and (drum roll, please!) a fresh seafood. Here we found a variety of fish, mussels, prawns, calamari and lobster too! After choosing your fresh seafood, you can hand over your plate to the culinary team so it may be steamed, fried or grilled with garlic butter or a spicy sauce. We opted for our seafood (including a luscious lobster)

to be grilled with a spicy sauce and it was truly delightful - fresh with the right amount of char and a kick of spice. Next came the mains, we were pleased with the spread of aromatic curries, chicken curry, stews and more. The Thai curry, which we ladled over some steamed rice, had the perfect balance of creamy coconut milk, lime leaves and more.

The team had clearly outdone themselves with a bunch of delicious cakes, um ali, fresh fruit and more to sweeten our brunch experience.

While each item was fantastic, the stand out dessert had to be the carrot cake, which had a thick layer of cream cheese frosting and moist cake base. A close second would have to be the tangy lemon cake. To quench our thirst, we ended our brunch with a generous serving of detox water – surely that balances the lush spread that preceded it. Right?

Needless to say, the Lemon Tree brunch is one that has firmly rooted itself in our list of ‘Favourite Family Brunches’. We’ll be back.

April 2022 25

tablehopping

RAMADAN KAREEM! AN EXTRAVAGANT FEAST

Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay will transport guests into a bygone era of opulence and grandeur this Ramadan with its extravagant Arabesque-inspired Ramadan Tent, featuring live music performed by four members of the famous Opera House of Egypt.

Oriental Specialty Chef Tony El Khoury, has ensured guests will be spoiled for choice with mouth-watering hot and cold mezze offerings, an extensive range of international dishes and 18 different live cooking stations featuring specialities such as Arabic, Lebanese, Italian, Spanish paella, Indian street food, sushi, mixed grills and more. There will be a fine selection of desserts too.

Iftar (sunset to 8pm) is BD32 net per person (includes food, house water, Ramadan juices, Arabic coffee and Moroccan tea). Children under six years dine for free, while children aged six to 12 years are charged BD16.

Ghabga (9pm to 2am) is BD34.5 net per person with children under six dining for free and those aged six to 12 years charged BD17.

Call 17 115-000 or email diningreservations. bahrain@fourseasons.com.

26 April 2022

After two consecutive years of heavily-curtailed dining options during Ramadan, the Kingdom’s finest hotels and restaurants are back with the delightful feasts and gorgeous, starry tents we all know and love. Check out our guide to the biggest and best on offer throughout the Holy Month.

BEACH FESTIVITIES Vida Beach Resort Marassi Al Bahrain is hosting its first ever Iftar and Ghabga beachfront experience featuring live entertainment, all curated by Chef Nicolas Herbault with the most irresistible flavours throughout the month. Vida’s seaside Iftar buffet starts from sunset until 8.30pm every day for BD21 net inclusive of Ramadan drinks and juices.

Vida’s Ghabga Nights features a set menu on weekdays and lavish buffets on Thursdays and Fridays for BD22 net complemented with Ramadan beverages and juices.

For more information, call 77 488-100 or email reservations.vimbh@ vidahotels.com.

RAMADAN FLAVOURS Downtown Rotana is inviting you to gather with your family, friends and colleagues during the Holy month of Ramadan over a vibrant spread of extravagant Iftar buffet at Al Maha for BD18 net or chill by the pool on the 9th floor at the Ghabga Lounge with live grills stations, mezze and desserts for BD12 net while enjoying the soothing music of live entertainment.

For more information or reservations, call 33 605-070 or 13 119-999.

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tablehopping

A SPECTACULAR SPREAD Break your fast at the InterContinental Regency Bahrain and experience a culinary adventure featuring a lavish buffet with live stations alongside traditional delicacies and international cuisine. Iftar is served daily from sunset until 8.30pm priced BD20 net per person. Children from six to 12 years are charged BD10 net and those below six years dine for free.

The hotel also has an extensive Ghabga buffet featuring delicacies and chef’s best traditional and international selections. Served daily from 9pm to 1am priced BD19 net.

Private Iftar and Ghabga events are also available starting from BD12 per person.

For more information and reservations call 17 227-777.

DELICIOUS DELIGHTS Be surrounded this Ramadan by traditional ambience and the finest Arabic hospitality and enjoy a wide array of international and traditional Ramadan favourites curated exclusively for you at Silk’s Terrace Tent & Garden, at the Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain.

Offerings include a selection of hot and cold Arabic mezze and rustic soups with an enticing selection of salads, Middle Eastern and international dishes as well as a wide variety of traditional Ramadan dishes and a delectable array of Arabic desserts.

Iftar is from sunset to 8pm and priced at BD19+++ per person including Ramadan drinks, while Ghabga is from 10pm to 2am and BD8+++ for either the salad and soup or dessert buffets, or BD13+++ for both.

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BEAUTIFUL BACKDROP Dusk beckons the start of a wonderful evening at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain, where a delightful feast in the elegant surroundings of the Masaya Pavilion becomes a memorable gathering for friends and family.

This year the famous Ramadan tent, with its manicured garden setting and décor inspired by Bahrain pottery, will transport guests through a sensory experience with the fusion of tradition and modern grandeur. The culinary line up resembles a series of food and spice stalls, such as tajines, machboos, saffron rice, falafel rolls, dates and live stations of Saj bread, Bahraini grills, fresh pasta, pad Thai noodles, tandoori meats and delectable desserts. The atmosphere is enlivened by a threepiece band lead by talented young singer Eman Al Aamer daily.

Iftar is BD34 per person from sundown to 8pm and Ghabga is BD37 per person from 9pm to 2am.

For more information, call 17 586-499 or email rc.bahrz.restaurant.reservations@ritzcarlton.com.

April 2022 27

tablehopping

BUFFET BRILLIANCE Celebrate The Holy Month of Ramadan with your family, friends and colleagues and book your Iftar or Ghabga for minimum of 15 people at Majestic Arjaan’s Ginger Restaurant and Café. Enjoy a lavish buffet filled with your Ramadan traditional favourites for only BD 10++ per person including Ramadan drinks.

For more information or reservations, call 17 370-000.

ROOFTOP RESERVATION Ramada Hotel & Suites Amwaj Islands by Wyndham is hosting an Iftar and Ghabga buffet with live entertainment at its Ya Hala rooftop open-air restaurant. Iftar is every day from sunset until 8pm and costs BD12 net per person with Ramadan beverages, while Ghabga is every Thursday and Friday from 8.30pm-2am and is priced B12 net per person also with Ramadan beverages.

For more information, call 13 600-111 or email: fnb@ ramada-manama-amwaj.com.

MOUTH-WATERING OCCASION Wyndham Garden Manama invites you to enjoy a delicious Iftar buffet or Ghabga set menu of classical Arabian and Oriental dishes, complete with live cooking stations, BBQ and daily flavoured Ouzi with a selection of fresh dates, salads and refreshing juices to a wide variety of exquisite Arabic delicacies and mouth-watering desserts.

Iftar at Mosaic Restaurant every day from sunset until 8.30pm is BD15 net per person and Ghabga is at Terrasse@28 from 9pm-2am and is priced BD8 net per person.

For more information, call 66 398-787 or email jashan@ wyndhamgardenmanama.com.

28 April 2022

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bystander

PIANOTAINMENT

In collaboration with the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities and the German Embassy, the critically acclaimed, one-of a-kind concert Pianotainment was performed in Bahrain at the Cultural Hall. Starring concert pianists, Stephan Weh and Marcel Dorn, Pianotainment is a spectacular four-handed piano show that has dazzled the world for over 20 years. The concert is truly a show like no other and perfect for young children and the elderly alike, hence drawing a huge crowd. It was a night of fun, presenting the perfect symbiosis between piano comedy and amazing virtuosity.

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April 2022 29

tablehopping

RAMADAN EVENINGS The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa, Manama, is hosting Ramadan Evenings at Al Fanar Rooftop Hall throughout the Holy Month. Ifrar is BD17 net per person. The hotel’s Bo.Sabi restaurant will also be open throughout the month from sunset to 1am.

For more information, call 17 531-666.

SUNSET BRUNCH Le Meridien City Centre Bahrain’s Baharat Restaurant will host Iftar from sunset to 8.30pm. For adults, the cost is BD18 net including Arabic juices, water, soft drinks and chilled juices. Children six to 12 years cost BD8 net while those below six years dine for free.

Ghabga at Baharat is served from 9pm to 1am on weekdays and from 9pm to 2am on weekends. This costs BD18 net per person.

For more information and reservations, call 17171000 or 33204175.

RAMADAN TENT The Gulf Hotel Bahrain is hosting Iftar and Ghabga in its famous Khaimat Al Khaleej Ramadan Tent this Holy Month. Gather with friends and loved ones to cherish this important occasion. Delightful cuisine awaits in a traditional location, with live entertainment and cooking stations to enhance this very special time of the year.

A LEGENDARY IFTAR The Westin City Centre Bahrain’s Furn Bistro is hosting Iftar from sunset to 8.30pm with both a set menu for BD18 net or an a la carte menu available from 6.30pm to 11pm.

For more information and reservations, call 17 171-000 or 33 204-175.

30 April 2022

Iftar is BD21+++ from sunset to 8pm and Ghabga is BD19+++ (weekdays) or BD21+++ (weekends) from 10pm onwards.

For more information or to make a reservation, call 17 713-000.

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bystander

Great Opera Arias

In collaboration with the Italian Embassy, Spring of Culture presented A Gala Concert From The Teatro Massimo In Palermo an evening of opera by Donizetti, Verdi, Rossini and other famous composers. The Italian singers Giuseppe Esposito and Maria Francesca Mazzara conducted by Alberto Maniaci performed these famous arias in their timeless beauty and elegance.

Ramadan Evenings at Al Fanar Rooftop Hall

Brought to you by Bahraini

Executive Chef Younis Ramadhn

Create memories with your loved ones A wide selection of traditional Ramadan delicacies for Iftar

B H D 17 n e t per per s on

Call to book: +973 17531666 T&C apply Subject to availability www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

April 2022 31

tablehopping

FESTIVE TREATS Embrace the spirit of the Holy Month at Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa, Seef. Share and treasure delicious delights with your family and friends. Iftar buffet costs BD12 and Ghabga costs BD16.

For more information and reservations, call 36897379.

SUMPTUOUS FEAST

A MEMORABLE EVENING The Elite Resort & Spa will host a month of memorable evenings this Ramadan at its Al Noor Tent. Celebrate the spirit of Ramadan and savour traditional Arabic flavours every day during Iftar and Ghabga. Both are priced BD9.900++ for adults and BD5.500++ for children aged six to 12.

For reservations, call 38 884-415 or 17 313-333.

This Ramadan, with Al Areen and Spa by Accor, treat yourself and your guests to something special with sumptuous Iftar and Ghabga buffets. The appearance of the new crescent moon signals the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. For the chefs at the Al Areen Palace and Spa, Ramadan heralds the start of a month of daily preparation of delightful culinary creations presented each night. For Iftar and Ghabga, Al Areen Palace’s Ramadan Tent takes on an Arabic theme for the month, with a special buffet of both local and regional Middle Eastern dishes. Priced at BD18 for Iftar and BD20 for Ghabga, diners can select from exquisitely-prepared hot and cold mezzes, live grill stations and traditional lamb ghouzi among an extensive selection of main course dishes. The buffet also includes an assortment of traditional desserts including luqaimat, baklava and many other local favourites For more information and reservations, contact 36 057-494.

KEEPING TRADITIONS Elite Seef Residence & Hotel is reviving the traditions of the Holy Month of Ramadan at Julio’s Specialty Restaurant. Iftar and Ghabha are priced at BD8 net and BD9 net respectively for adults and BD5 net for both for children aged 10 and below.

For reservations, call 36 020-600 or 17 583-388.

32 April 2022

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bystander

Japan Donated to the Mothers and Children Welfare Society

Mrs. Kazue Miyamoto, wife of the Ambassador of Japan to the Kingdom of Bahrain, presented a cheque for the proceeds raised at the Japanese booth at the ‘Annual Embassies Bazaar 2022’ to the The Children and Mothers Welfare Society.

Syed’s Birthday

A birthday party was held for Syed at Dilmunia Island. The event was attended by close friends.

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April 2022 33

motoring

I

WHEN IN ROMA!

Our motoring journalist, Kristian Harrison, gets behind the wheel of the phenomenal Ferrari Roma for a sensational test drive. That’s one item struck off his bucket list!

t is a very rare occasion indeed when you are afforded the opportunity to tick something off your bucket list. Being a motoring journalist for the best part of a decade, I have been extremely lucky to strike a line through some of my dream experiences, but there was one lifelong wish, arguably the greatest of them all, that I had not yet fulfilled.

Before I even got inside the car, I admired the sexy, sleek exterior with its sweeping bonnet, sculpted roofline and curvy rear. It’s refreshing to see a sports car without a rear spoiler sticking out and obstructing the view, although there is small mobile one integrated into the rear screen which deploys automatically at higher speeds.

That is, until I got the call one fateful March morning that my opportunity would finally come: to be able to drive a Ferrari! Not only that, but be given one for an entire day to do as I wish and really get to grips with the purring beast.

Of course, with a car like this, it’s what’s under the bonnet that really matters. There’s only so much standing around and admiring you can do when all you want to do is get in and put it through its paces!

This particular prancing horse was the 2022 Ferrari Roma, a gorgeous white stallion fresh off the Maranello conveyor belt.

The Roma is the latest coupé from the famous marque, featuring signature Italian styling aimed at being a contemporary reinterpretation of the carefree lifestyle of 1950s and ‘60s Rome, from which it gets its name.

34 April 2022

Entry to this beautiful beast is granted by the new Ferrari key with ‘Comfort Access’ function that allows the driver to open the car by touching a button next to the new flush handle in the door.

Once inside, there’s a small socket for the key underneath the centrepiece, and then a touch button on the steering wheel roars the V8 turbo engine into life.

Achieving 0-100kmph in just 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 320kmph when you extract every ounce of the 612bhp engine, this is truly a monster. It’s little surprise that it’s a member of the V8 family that has won the International Engine of the Year four years in a row.

Driving this beauty is as pleasurable as you can imagine, particularly thanks to the steering feedback. Much stiffer than expected, the car responds to every slight change of direction regardless of speed.

Naturally, with the fervour of a kid in a sweet shop, I flicked the driving mode into Sport (Wet, Comfort, Race and ESC-off are also available) via a dial on the steering wheel.

Although I barely thought it possible, the steering became even tighter and the suspension harder, with gear changes and throttle more responsive too.

The Roma’s new 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox not only reduces fuel consumption and emissions, but also means its shifts are faster www.bahrainthismonth.com

motoring

and smoother which makes the car even more responsive on the open road and especially comfortable in stop and start driving situations, which unfortunately in Bahrain is pretty much constantly!

Of course, the automatic option is there to make life easy for you, but for some real fun on the highway I shifted the transmission toggle to manual and used the huge chrome paddles behind the wheel. Hearing the engine roar as I rocketed up through the gears was a phenomenal feeling, although for the full www.bahrainthismonth.com

experience this is a car to be taken out on track as it hits that dreaded speed limit all too quickly.

The interior is as luxurious as you would expect, with leather bucket seats offering both comfort and lateral support, while the dashboard and doors are embossed with the finest leather and carbon fibre elements.

The Roma ticks all the infotainment boxes such as navigation, Dual Climate Control, AM/ FM radio, Bluetooth and USB connectivity all accessed via a smart 8.4-inch vertical touch

screen (which complements the 16” digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel).

I did not want my experience with the Roma to end, and I kept looking at the clock willing it to go back an hour. Alas, that didn’t happen, but the depressing feeling I had when I climbed back into my own car was sweetened with the knowledge that I had just had one of the best driving experiences of my life and I could finally tick that elusive box.

For more information, visit the Euro Motors Ferrari showroom in Sitra or call 17 734-734.

April 2022 35

motoring news

A RACE TO REMEMBER! T

Bahrain thrills fans both, on and off-track, during the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2022.

he Kingdom of Bahrain ushered in a new era of Formula One as the Bahrain International Circuit hosted the inaugural race of the 2022 F1 season in front of a record crowd.

An incredible 35,000 fans flocked to the track for race day, the highest ever single-day attendance in the history of the event stretching back to the first race in 2004. Not only that, but the total attendance for the three-day weekend was 98,000, another record.

There were also more international fans than ever before, up 50 percent from 2019 (the last time the Bahrain race was open to all pre-pandemic), showing just how much our event is loved across the region and beyond.

36 April 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Monaco’s Charles Leclerc won the epic 57-lap thriller for Ferrari, with the prancing horse celebrating a historic 1-2 as their other driver, Carlos Sainz, finished second amidst a firework extravaganza that lit up the Sakhir sky. Crowd favourite Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes took third place after late problems for both Red Bull cars saw them retire.

The entire event had a festival atmosphere, with a plethora of entertainers from across the globe delighting fans in the F1 village vending area. These colourful characters included dancers, musicians, clowns, magicians and more.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the entire off-track programme was

the spectacular concerts which once again thrilled the packed crowds and lit up the circuit. The back-to-back performances of globally-renowned DJs Don Diablo and Afrojack will be remembered for years to come and will no doubt join the pantheon of greatness shared by the guests of previous years.

Lewis Hamilton

Carlos Sainz

Chares Leclerc

motoring news

Aside from the F1, a suite of thrilling on-track action delighted fans in the stands. Some intense racing was to be found in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, the FIA Formula 3 Championship and the Porsche Sprint Challenge Middle East.

As always, Bahrain This Month was there to capture these amazing moments and bring them to life for posterity. Check out our favourite snaps from across the weekend and relive the magic! www.bahrainthismonth.com

April 2022 37

motoring news

COLLABORATING FOR CLEAN MOBILITY Hyundai Motor Company and Shell plc (Shell) are starting a new strategic collaboration to explore ways to offer lower carbon emissions products and services and to reduce emissions across their operations.

President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, Jaehoon Chang, and Shell’s Downstream Director, Huibert Vigeveno, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Hyundai Motor America headquarters in Fountain Valley, California. The MOU builds on a strong foundation of several years of collaboration and will draw on the companies’ expertise in electric vehicle (EV) charging, hydrogen, low carbon energy solutions and digital technology as potential opportunities for both companies to reduce carbon emissions.

The companies will be pursuing combined EV network and service offerings in key markets including the US,

Europe and Asia as part of the collaboration. In addition, Genesis expects to meet its EV owner’s needs seamlessly through the service, supporting its ambition for all new car models to be zero emissions by 2025 and 100 percent of the line up by 2030. Integrated hydrogen solutions, where Hyundai Motor could provide fuel cell trucks and Shell offers hydrogen infrastructure for targeted fleet customers could also be implemented.

THE ‘POWERHOUSE EAR’ LUXURY SUV OF THE Y

LAMBORGHINI’S BEST YEAR EVER FOR SALES Automobili Lamborghini concluded the financial year 2021 with the best results ever in terms of sales, turnover and profitability, confirming a solid and winning strategy.

Turnover reached the all-time high of GBP1.95 billion, a 19 percent increase over 2020.

The operating margin more than doubled compared to 2018 and reached 20.2 percent, a profitability level in line with the luxury industry. As part of an ambitious strategic plan to include the highest investment in the company’s history (EUR1.8 billion over the next five years, entirely selffinanced), Lamborghini has its eyes on an even more challenging financial goal for the upcoming years: to push up its profitability to between 22 percent and 25 percent 2021 was also the best year ever on a commercial level, with 8,405 cars delivered globally (up 13 percent compared to 2020). In terms of models, there was success for the Urus Super SUV with 5,021 units delivered, followed by the V10powered Huracán, which saw a huge increase in sales to 2,586 units generated by the strong impetus provided by the Huracán STO. In addition, 798 Aventadors (V12 model) were delivered across the world.

38 April 2022

INFINITI’s full-sized luxury SUV, the QX80 Black Edition, received the ‘Powerhouse Luxury SUV of the Year’ award during the 2021 edition of Signature - The Luxury 100 Award.

Designed exclusively for customers in the GCC, the INFINITI QX80 Black Edition grade accentuates the SUV’s presence on the road, combining bold proportions and a commanding exterior design with a spacious, high-quality cabin with room for seven or eight passengers. Effortless performance, advanced drive-assist technologies and taut, yet refined, dynamics allow for a relaxing and confidence-inspiring drive.

The exterior of the QX80 Black Edition features dark chrome and black exterior

accents that highlight the front grill and fascia, side fender vents, door mirror caps and rear tailgate strip. The commanding stance is heightened with the addition of dark chrome 22-inch forged alloy wheels.

The LED head and taillights provide improved visibility, while the Adaptive Front Lighting System illuminates corners by turning with the steering direction.

At its heart, the SUV is powered by INFINITI’s 5.6-liter V-8 that delivers 400 horsepower and 560 Newton-meters of torque, paired to a 7-speed automatic transmission. Equipped with INFINITI AllMode® Four-Wheel Drive as well as Body Motion Control System, the QX80 is as capable as it is comfortable. www.bahrainthismonth.com

motoring news

A NEW DIMENSION OF TECHNOLOGY

Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG for Development, Frank Weber has presented the first details of the future BMW 7 Series at the BMW Group Annual Conference.

The focus is initially on technology highlights, a new front-end design based on hallmark BMW design features and a unique interior experience consisting of digital features and exclusive materials. In April, the premium cor manufacturer will present the all-electric BMW i7 and with it the entire new BMW 7 Series.

With the all-electric BMW i7, the Bavarian premium automobile manufacturer is expanding its range of locally emission-free vehicles to the exclusive segment of its top-of-the-range models. “Like no other model, the BMW 7 Series stands for BMW’s innovative strength,” says Weber. “The all- electric BMW i7 is also the most powerful BMW 7 Series. It combines the best driving experience with the ultimate digital experience. This makes it the ideal vehicle for forward- thinking, responsible decision-makers and avant-garde pioneers.”

In the BMW i7, the characteristic design elements of twin round headlights and BMW grille have been completely reinterpreted to achieve a modern and distinctive look.

THE VISUAL IDENTITY OF A LEGENDARY SUV Building on the success of the legendary Patrol Super Safari, Nissan announces aesthetic and technological upgrades for the 2022 model to cater to the evolving needs of buyers in the region. Conquering the harshest of terrain for almost seventy years, the Patrol has built a legacy in the Middle East, composed of a deep-rooted heritage, power, and superior off-road capability.

The rugged appeal of the Patrol Super Safari is available with a choice of three bold exterior colours – black, white, or gold – with a unique choice of grey or gold accents across the roof, bumpers, wheel arches, and spare tyre cover for drivers to create a combination of their choice.

The striking ‘Super Safari’ decal along the side of the car is complemented by a bold set of 17-inch diamond cut alloy wheels that contribute to the SUV’s head-turning presence.

Thrilling performance is provided by a 4.8-liter in-line sixcylinder engine that produces 280 horsepower and 451 Nm of torque. Equipped with VTC and NICS, in addition to a 5-speed automatic or manual transmission, the Patrol Super Safari offers exceptional off-road performance and impressive top speed on the highway.

TOP OF THE LINE SECURITY Commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, has stated that the force is adding 400 Ghiath smart police patrols over the next five years, a deal worth USD54.4 million.

The announcement was made during the official launch of the second generation of the Ghiath Smart Patrol in partnership with W Motors and Safe City Group. The Ghiath Smart Patrol is one of the most advanced security vehicles in the world, and the first W Motors car to be fully produced in the UAE at the company’s Dubai Silicon Oasis facility.

Ghiath Smart Patrol is the first product developed under W Motors’ Special Projects Division, a fully integrated unit specialised in delivering turkey mobility solutions focused on security, defence, and smart technologies. The Ghiath Smart Patrol integrates highly advanced technologies, functionality, and reliability. Featuring W Motors’ distinctive DNA, the vehicle is modern and sleek, with strong lines highlighting powerful muscles. Exterior features include emergency lights, police lights, side steps, a 360-degree deployable camera, eight exterior surveillance cameras, and a facial and license plate recognition system. www.bahrainthismonth.com

April 2022 39

commerce

FIND A FRESH ANGLE

A

few days ago, we were having a discussion about how so many business stories that we hear are the same – but each with that slightly different angle which helps it to stand apart from the crowd. In a world that is now so connected and technology driven, the likelihood that a product is completely unique and the first of its kind, is idealistic and rare. So, this month, I chose to write about why it is not such a bad thing to not be the first. In fact, being a “copier” could actually help you – if you find that fresh angle.

The first step is to figure out how entrepreneurs come up with an idea for a new business. Almost always its likely to be “find a problem or a gap in a customer experience, and you fix it”. This customer could be a company in need of data analytics tools or a consumer in need of groceries within 30 minutes. Today, the answer to almost everything is “use technology”. And that’s how so many businesses have been born. Find something mundane like groceries, that customers need regularly, add in the

convenience of an app and there you have it – a fresh angle to an old problem.

However, when those customers need to pay for those groceries, it’s not a smooth process.

So, another player enters with the idea to smoothen the payment system and make it more seamless. Another fresh angle to an old process. At each step, the mindset of “how can I make this easier” builds on old ideas to solve an extra layer of inconvenience.

Take a very basic need – networking. Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of networking, yet it needs to be done. Facebook tried to allow us to interact and network in an informal safe space. LinkedIn gave it the fresh angle of professional networking online. Just a few days ago, I read about a UAE based start-up eMajlis that gives you communitybased networking which uses AI to create matches and helps you to set up a meeting as well. A fresh angle again.

The first mover advantage can work wonderfully, as is well known. However, the first mover does have to invest more in terms of creating a market and educating the

Business expert, Pria Masson Tanwar, talks about how solving a consumer problem can lead to a successful business. customer. Some businesses have high barriers to entry. This would include high tech software solutions for corporations wherein a deep knowledge of the industry is prerequisite. Even a business like CAFU of UAE which offers delivery of Petrol and Diesel through an app, the app is just the user tool – the backend comprises tie-ups, fuel trucks and expensive infrastructure. It’s not easy to break into it. Even ecommerce and marketplace systems, the competitors usually have long road to gaining traction. However, whenever they do, the company that comes next, gets to build on a problem or small gap in the existing system.

In our personal lives, it helps not to focus on problems. To make money however, you have to find a problem to solve. No system is perfect and your success could perhaps be found in that very fresh, yet very small angle in a well established business system. All you have to do, is learn from their experience and add your burst of freshness to give the users a whole new product. It does not need to be all new. It just needs to solve a new problem.

Pria is the Founder and Managing Director of GMI Advisory WLL– a Management Consultancy specialising in emerging businesses. You can visit her company website http://www.guidemyidea.com to connect with her. You can follow Pria at her Instagram handle @guidemyidea 40 April 2022

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business bites

BD417 Million Worth Exported in February The Information &eGovernment Authority (iGA) issued its foreign trade report of February 2022, encompassing data on the balance of trade, imports, exports (national origin), and re-exports.

The value of imports increased by nine percent, reaching BD469 million during February 2022 compared to BD429 million for the same month of the previous year. The top ten countries accounted for 70 percent of the value of imports, with the remaining countries accounting for 30 percent.

According to the report, China ranked first when it came to imports to Bahrain, with a total of BD76 million, Brazil was second with BD54 million, and Australia was third with BD45 million.

The value of exports of national origin increased by 121 percent to BD417 million during February 2022, compared to BD189 million for the same month of the previous year. The top ten countries in terms of the value of exports of national origin purchased from Bahrain accounted for 75 percent of the total value, with the remaining countries accounting for 25 percent.

The United States of America ranked first among countries receiving Bahraini exports of national origin, importing BD78 million from Bahrain. Meanwhile, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was second with BD65 Cutting-Edge Digital Identity Technology and Italy third with BD54 million.

CUTTING-EDGE DIGITAL IDENTITY TECHNOLOGY Beyon Connect and Bahrain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have signed an MoU that will see the NCSC adopt innovative digital identity and digital postbox solutions and services delivered by Beyon Connect.

The NCSC is focused on building a strong cyber security framework and capability in line with the Kingdom’s efforts to ensure a safe and secure ICT infrastructure.

As a result of the collaboration, Beyon Connect will deliver its recently launched innovative digital postbox solution, OneBox, to enable National secure communication between the public sector, private businesses and residents of Bahrain in one secure, convenient, and trusted digital space.

Beyon Connect will also deliver its latest new product, OneID, which brings a new platform to register a unique digital identity, to interact securely with public and private sector digital services across Bahrain.

Beyon Connect, which launched in January, is a subsidiary of Batelco and is focused on delivering new technologies with great innovation potential, Software-as-a-Service platforms, and advanced IT solutions to both the public and private sectors in the MENA region.

42 April 2022

PROPELLING TECHNOLOGY FORWARD WorkSmart for Events Management in partnership with The Bahrain Technology Companies Society (BTECH), has announced that the tenth edition of the Information and Communication Technology Conference ‘MEET ICT’ and the Bahrain International Technology Exhibition (BITEX) will be held from June 14 to June 16. The event is being held under the patronage of the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication, HE Engr. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed.

MEET ICT and BITEX are considered leading events in the field of ICT in Bahrain and are being held this year under the slogan ‘Leading the way towards the digital economy through artificial intelligence’.

This three-day exhibition, and two-day conference session will feature specialised workshops that will tackle comprehensive topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation, 5G, Blockchain, FinTech, Cybersecurity, and more. Over 700 international delegates are anticipated to join, and local, regional, and International IT companies are expected to showcase the latest in technology innovation at BITEX Exhibition.

This event provides a conducive platform to bring together private and public sector decision-makers, key players, IT experts, those interested in technology, and those who are passionate about networking, building valuable partnerships, reopening, and expanding business opportunities. www.bahrainthismonth.com

business bites

The Potential to Go Global Mohammad Al-Razaz, Serial Entrepreneur and Co-founder & CEO of OTO - MENA’s largest shipping integrator and aggregator solution for online businesses, indicated that Bahraini entrepreneurs have the potential to expand globally due to an integrated support system that includes a variety of financial services and programmes, incubators, business accelerators, and export services.

“The more original a project’s idea is, the more it will be able to traverse borders, compete, and get funding from investors,” says Mr. Al-Razaz who went on to highlight his entrepreneurial journey in Saudi Arabia during a Fireside chat hosted by the ‘Collective Hub’ in Bahrain Bay and sponsored by Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP).

“Entrepreneurs must make decisions based on facts, data, and information, to carefully assemble their team, assure continuous improvement, and consistently push themselves,” he adds.

The event was part of Tenmou’s initiatives to enhance angel investment, inspire more Bahraini entrepreneurs to develop their ideas into viable economic initiatives, and benefit from the experiences of entrepreneurs on a regional and worldwide level.

RINGING THE BELL FOR GENDER EQUALITY Bahrain Bourse (BHB), a self-regulated multi-asset marketplace, has joined 188 global exchanges in the annual United Nations Ring the Bell for Gender Equality initiative, which took place virtually in conjunction with the celebration of International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8.

The initiative featured key executive females in leadership positions from several listed companies as well as other key stakeholders. Narjes Jamal, Chief Operating Officer at Bahrain Bourse and Head of Gender Equality Committee, says: “Evidence from global stock exchanges reveals that listed companies with women on their boards outperform those without, and it gives us great pride to be part of this initiative and capitalise on the opportunity of closing the global gender gap. The percentage of women working at Bahrain Bourse is 42 percent, which is a very strong representation of females within the workplace.”

The “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” virtual event is a collaboration between the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative, the UN Global Compact, UN Women, Women in ETFs, and the World Federation of Stock Exchanges to raise awareness about the private sector’s opportunities to advance gender equality and sustainable development.

A Strategic Partnership A UK-based socially conscious mobile payments Fintech startup, KogoPAY, announces its strategic partnership with The Private Office of H.E. Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Duaij bin Khalifa al Khalifa, the GCC region’s growth enablers for independent business development, consultancy, and advisory.

Having recently participated in the 2nd Edition of the Royal Investment Summit in January 2022, hosted by Shaikh Abdulaziz bin Duaij Al Khalifa Private Office, KogoPAY has already started to establish and leverage relationships with both local and international like-minded individuals with similar values including social impact, technology, financial inclusion, as well as startup empowerment.

KogoPAY offers virtual IBAN accounts in GBP and EUR, as well as a mobile wallet in several currencies. Their mission is to make it simple for anyone to transfer money globally.

The technology allows anyone to send money instantly to friends and family, conduct simple commercial transactions, and support charities in receiving donations with minimal costs. KogoPAY’s future plans include embedding crypto-tofiat and fiat-to-crypto payments to the wallet, as well as CBDCs. Additionally, the firm aims to boost the ‘Pay it Forward’ concept. www.bahrainthismonth.com

April 2022 43

tv releases

We all feel like having lazy nights in, curled up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and great TV show or movie on. Here are Kristian Harrison’s top recommendations for this month.

Hacks

Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a legendary Las Vegas stand-up comedy diva, needs to maintain relevance: the head of the casino where she performs wants to pare down her performance dates. Ava (Hannah Einbinder) is a young comedy writer who is unable to find work due to being fired from her job over an insensitive tweet. The two reluctantly team up to freshen up Deborah’s material and learn to respect each other’s differences.

Joe Bell

The true story of a small town, working class father who embarks on a walk across the U.S. to crusade against bullying after his son is tormented in high school. Meanwhile he realises he is instead missing out on his son’s life back at home.

Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood

Trivia Quest

Metal Lords

The Bubble

An animated story of the first moon landing in the summer of 1969 from two interwoven perspectives. Starring Jack Black and Glen Powell, it both captures the astronaut and mission control view of the triumphant moment, and the lesser-seen bottom up perspective of what it was like from an excited kid’s perspective, living near NASA in Houston, Texas but mostly watching it on TV like hundreds of millions of others.

D.B. Weiss and David Benioff produce this new teen-comedy that could be Netflix’s equivalent of School of Rock. Metal Lords is about two high-schoolers (Jaeden Martell and Adrian Greensmith) who start a metal band, recruiting a female cellist (Isis Hainsworth) to round out their trio in an attempt to win the local Battle of the Bands.

44 April 2022

Netflix has been slowly expanding its interactive specials selection and perhaps the most interesting title in the format to date will be Trivia Quest which will come to Netflix every day throughout April. Every day, you’ll be tasked with answering 24 different questions (12 normal and 12 hard).

Judd Apatow writes and directs this comedy movie that features Karen Gillan, Pedro Pascal, Iris Apatow, and Kate McKinnon. Set in a hotel during the pandemic, we see the cast and crew race against time to put together the sixth movie in a dinosaur fighting franchise. www.bahrainthismonth.com

tv releases

Better Nate Than Ever The film is based on the popular book ‘Better Nate Than Ever’, which is about 13-year-old Pittsburgher Nate Foster (Rueby Wood) who sneaks off with his best friend Libby (Aria Brooks) to a major musical audition in the Big Apple after not being cast in their school play.

Moon Knight Moon Knight is the sixth television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. Marc Spector (Oscar Isaac), a mercenary who suffers from dissociative identity disorder, is drawn into a deadly mystery involving Egyptian gods with his multiple identities.

Ice Age: Scrat Tales Ice Age: Scrat Tales is a series of six new animated shorts starring Scrat, the hapless sabre-toothed squirrel of the Ice Age adventures, who experiences the ups and downs of fatherhood as he and the adorable, mischievous Baby Scrat, alternately bond with each other and battle for ownership of the highly treasured Acorn. Featuring the vocal talents of Chris Wedges (Scrat) and Karl Wahlgren (Baby Scrat).

www.bahrainthismonth.com

April 2022 45

games

GAMES

WHAT IS IT?

Elden Ring is an expansive fantasy action-RPG game developed by FromSoftware, Inc. under the direction of Hidetaka Miyazaki and created in collaboration with famed ‘Game of Thrones’ author George R.R. Martin, who provided details and background for the game’s mystical and magical setting.

GAMEPLAY

The third-person game focuses on combat and exploration; players start with a linear opening but eventually progress to freely explore the Lands Between, including its six main areas. These are interconnected through a central hub that players can access later in the game›s progression and are explorable using the character›s mount as the main mode of transport. Combat relies heavily on character-building elements such as calculated and close-ranged melee-based combat with the use of skills, magic abilities, as well as blocking and dodging mechanics.

GRAPHICS

The thing that’s most impressive about Elden Ring is the variety in its brilliant open world design. There are gigantic castles, forts, manors, underground labyrinths and more to explore, packed with secret areas, challenging bosses, and multiple paths that are linked via one-way shortcut doors.

GRAN TURISMO 7

The world’s most famous racing game series is back!

Whether you’re a competitive or casual racer, collector, tuner, livery designer or photographer – find your line with a staggering collection of game modes including fan-favourites like GT Campaign, Arcade and Driving School. With over 420 cars and 90 track routes in dynamic weather conditions available, Gran Turismo 7 recreates the look and feel of classic motors and adrenalinefuelled racing.

46 April 2022

ELDEN RING VERDICT:

An astonishing feat in game design.

RATING:

STRANGER OF PARADISE: FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is set in a dark fantasy interpretation of the setting for the original Final Fantasy game.

The main character is Jack Garland, a man consumed by a need to destroy Chaos. Jack is accompanied by other companions, including newcomers Ash and Jed. During the journey they face a knight who has taken on the role of Chaos; while seemingly the foretold Warriors of Light, each has doubts as to whether that is their role.

WWE 2K22

WWE 2K returns! Throw down with the biggest and most realistic-looking WWE Superstars and Legends.

Relive pivotal moments in Rey Mysterio’s iconic career in 2K Showcase. The MyRISE career mode is focused on separate stories for both male and female superstars.

Using created wrestlers, players can form alliances, make enemies and branch into subplots based upon the players’ choices. www.bahrainthismonth.com

websites Did you know that there are 1.18 billion websites in the world? Kristian Harrison brings you four sites that he found to be quite useful this month.

lingyourlanguage.com

This website is a great one for anyone who thinks they are great at recognising different languages. It is a great way to test the knowledge of hyperpolyglots because there are more than six thousand languages all around the world. Also, this website keeps you entertained while you try to guess which language is being played live.

framesynthesis. com/drivingsimulator/maps

If you ever wanted to go on a road trip through rural America or explore South America cities, here is your chance. You can take the wheel and go wherever you like as long as Google has mapped the road. You also must drive according to local laws and regulations, which not only improves your driving but gives you a fascinating insight into foreign driving systems.

boredpanda.com

oddee.com

Bored Panda is the place you want to be when you want to discover interesting and visually appealing content. It’s a blog that publishes regular updates on the coolest finds in travel, photography, illustration, animals, DIY, technology, design and all sorts of other great categories. You can also create an account to vote posts up or down.

Love weird stuff? Then check out Oddee, one of the web’s largest and most popular platforms featuring the craziest, strangest and most bizarre content you probably won’t find anywhere else. Posts feature photographs and videos, with categories including art, signs, places, objects, ads, science, medicine, home design, names, people, gifts, stories, tech and more.

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APPS REVIEW KRISTIAN HARRISON GIVES US HIS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NIFTY APPS THAT ARE A SOURCE OF MOTIVATION, INSPIRATION AND INFORMATION TOO!

Calm Taking a moment of calm can be crucial for your mental health, and Calm is one of the leading meditation and sleep-promotion apps available. It has guided meditations, breathing exercises to reduce anxiety, sleep stories and more. There are guides for beginners and experts alike, and while you’ll need to pay to get access to most, there’s still a lot here for free users who aren’t sure if they’ll enjoy it.

Daily Yoga Yoga is unbelievably powerful. It strengthens your core, increases flexibility and focus and decreases stress. Plus, it can help you lose weight and stay healthy. This app will guide you through daily yoga routines of varying difficulty and length and also provides step-by-step HD videos showing exactly how to do each pose.

Strafe Esports

Fabulous – Motivate Me! With science-based coaching as its backbone, Fabulous – Motivate Me! Will help instil healthy, positive habits and routines into your life. This includes everything from better sleep, sticking to a morning routine, finding time for creativity, daily meditation, losing weight and more.

48 April 2022

If you love to keep up with the latest news and scores from your favourite esports, then give Strafe Esports a try. It covers news from a variety of games, including League of Legends, Hearthstone and Rocket League – and it even allows you to gamify your esports experience with a system that pits your predictions against other people’s. If you’re a lover of esports, or are just curious, this is worth downloading.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

music

Franz Ferdinand

Hits to the Head When Franz Ferdinand put together Hits to the Head, they were inspired by greatest-hits collections that didn’t just serve as introductions to a band’s music, but worked as albums in their own right. By choosing the songs from each of their albums that reflected both their platinum-selling popularity and their indie roots, the Glasgow punks succeeded in that aim.

The drama they bring to “Darts of Pleasure” and “Take Me Out” still grabs listeners by the ears; “Michael” and “Matinee” remain some of their most seductive dance floor movers. Despite its generous track list, Hits to the Head never drags – like Franz Ferdinand’s music as a whole, it’s very listenable and a lot of fun.

The Boo Radleys

Ghost Impera Verdict:

Ghost appears from nowhere with another classic.

What’s the story?

Impera is the fifth studio album by the Swedish rock band Ghost. Frontman Tobias Forge stated that he came up with the concept of Impera in 2013 after reading the book The Rule of Empires: Those Who Built Them, Those Who Endured Them, and Why They Always Fall by Timothy Parsons. As such, it is themed mainly on ‘the rise and fall of empires’. It is described to take place hundreds of years forward from the 14th century Europe Black Plague era of Ghost’s previous album, Prequelle.

Worth a listen?

The set-opening title track is a cinematic instrumental filled with dual lead guitars thundering tom-toms and kick drums, piano, keyboards, and swelling strings is an indication of the mash-up madness that is to come. It gives way majestically to “Kaisarion” with an introductory Forge scream. Ghost kicks in with a driving beat (courtesy of drummer Hux Nettermalm) and a massive, chugging hook. It’s titled for the son of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar, the last Pharoah. First single, “Hunter’s Moon,” about the empire of childhood, careens across doomy, synth-laden hard rock. “Watcher in the Skies” offers an enormous fist-pumping riff in an intricate melody. Impera is the most unabashed exercise in exultant pop/rock sheen Ghost has issued to date.

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Keep On With Falling When a band reappears after a long time away and releases new music, the first question to cross most people’s mind is something like this – are they as good as they used to be? In the case of the Boo Radleys, the answer is a thankful ‘yes’. Whether the songs are smile-inducing or a little sad, they are all big, bright, and joyful, and the group sounds like they are having a blast.

Having the band back in any form and operating at such a high level is a dream come true for all Boo fanatics and should be a nice discovery for younger fans looking for some classic OG dream pop.

Avril Lavigne

Love Sux On her previous albums, there’s been a clear split between the two Avrils: the snotty punk who twirls gum on one finger while flipping you the bird with the other hand, and the earnest, ultra-emotive power balladeer.

On her seventh set, Love Sux, Lavigne has put all her eggs in the former basket, delivering a no-frills blast for fans of “Sk8r Boi,” “He Wasn’t,” and “Girlfriend.” With gloves off and F-bombs at the ready, Lavigne presses pause on her late-era maturation and gets back to bratty, rebellious basics.

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gadgets

GADGETS

CHILLY GLASSES

NITECORE TM26 3500 LUMEN LED FLASHLIGHT

With these glasses, you’ll no longer have a pool day ruined by your drinks going warm. Pop the glasses in the freezer beforehand so the cooling gel goes ice cold, then pour your drink and enjoy chilled beverages for hours ahead.

Available on www.amazon.com

PHONESOAP SMARTPHONE SANITISER

Between sandy beach days, barbecues and sticky weather, your iPhone gets covered in germs and bacteria. Pop it into this sanitising case and not only will it charge, but it will emerge completely clean.

Available on www.amazon.com 50 April 2022

We bring you the latest gadgets to push your technological buttons.

This multipurpose flashlight is a 3,500-lumen flashlight that is waterproof enabling it to be submersed under two metres of water. It has a maximum run-time of up to 1,000 hours and has eight different brightness settings. It can be mounted on tripods and has an OLED display to show its battery life.

Available on www.amazon.com

TERMINIX ALLCLEAR MOSQUITO REPELLER

With this mosquito repellent, enjoy a summer free of mosquitos no matter where you are. It is safe around pets and children, and has a range up to a 15-foot circumference. Each cartridge lasts up to 18 hours.

Available on www.amazon.com

STERIPEN ULTRA

This gadget is perfect for those summer trips and hiking holidays. It makes water safe to drink by killing over 99.9 percent of bacteria, viruses and protozoa that cause waterborne illness. This UV water purifier makes water drinkable in just 48 seconds, and can last for up to 8,000 treatments. It is rechargeable through computer outlets or portable solar panels.

Available on www.steripen.com/ultra www.bahrainthismonth.com

Bahrain Edition

BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | LOCAL ISSUES

April 2022 | Issue 228

INTERVIEW In conversation with My Gold Souq’s Amy Vaya Noor Nooruddin lets us peak into her life We Step into Harpreet Kaur’s Shoes

FASHION Modest, Elegant and Luxurious…

LIFESTYLE Eating Healthy?

Try these Spring Salads!

BEAUTY Ramadan Beauty Essentials 5 Products to Detox, Restore and Renew Your Skin

PARENTING Ouiam Tells Us How to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids www.womanthismonth.com

FASHION | fashion forward

This Ramadan, we bring you true luxury in the form of celebrity fashion designer Pallavi Puri’s opulent designs, and the perfect embellishments to complement the look this holy month.

Modest, Elegant and Luxurious…

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FASHION | fashion forward

Fashion has always been one of the most authentic ways of expressing oneself.

Our clothing has a way of emulating our personalities and state of mind. During Ramadan, people’s approach to fashion often mirrors the sentiment of the holy month – flowing, elegant and demure, yet embodying a sense of luxury. Longer hemlines, modest silhouettes and luxe fabrics are further elevated with flecks of gold and delicate designs.

This Ramadan, we found that the collection of renowned fashion designer Pallavi Puri, who recently launched her first Middle East luxury studio in Dubai, was perfect for the occasion.

Pallavi’s designs are frequently worn

by Bollywood celebrities and other personalities worldwide.

Pallavi Puri Atelier features exquisite modest custom-made and ready to wear designs for any occasion. Featuring three distinct collections; Elegant evening and cocktail wear, Kaftans and Capsule (casual) - every design is crafted from premium fabric, couture sewing techniques, and opulent details.

The atelier also has a dedicated private suite for bridal couture. The designer’s collection features intricately woven and embellished or embroidered dresses - giving a sensual and sophisticated look.

Aquazzura,

Carrie Mule

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FASHION | fashion forward

Aquazzura,

Galactic Flower Sandal

Aquazzura,

Diniz Sandal

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April 2022

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FASHION | fashion forward

EDITOR’S PICK

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April 2022

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PEOPLE | interview

PUTTING A FACE TO THE VOICE! Noor Nooruddin is a lot of things to a lot of people, but most of the community knows her as a writer, radio host, presenter and doting wife. This month, Farah Baig found out where Noor’s zest for all things creative and fun comes from.

It is believed that every person spends an average of 50.6 minutes in their car daily.

Whether you’re on a school run, commuting to and from work, running errands or stuck in traffic, driving or being a passenger can feel quite monotonous and frustrating at times too. That being said, we often find some much needed respite when tuning in to our favourite radio station and enjoying some friendly banter, news and groovy music.

Noor Nooruddin, the lovable host of Radio Bahrain’s Midday Mellow Submarine, has been a breath of fresh air for listeners across the Kingdom for four years now. However, her love for all things creative started in the sixth grade when she discovered her knack for writing. “We were given an assignment to write a short story and I didn't think much of it as I was a nerd, so I always did all my work anyway. I ended up writing a 20page story so my parents and teacher were excited and that’s exactly where it started - I

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noticed writing was a thing for me and initially went into writing short stories and poetry, too,” says Noor, who went on to get her Masters in creative writing.

The Talented Scribe Around ten years ago, Noor became a content writer for Red Bull and would collate pieces on Bahrain including events on the island.

“I then had the opportunity to interview people which I soon found out was really great! There’s something about the rapport that you build with someone and how you get out all the good information when you're having a conversation,” she says.

Her love for writing and fun-loving personality soon culminated in the form of an interesting blog, Shda3wa. The blog provides Noor with an outlet to completely be herself.

“There was a time when there was a boom of

cupcake places all across Bahrain and well…

I thought it would be fun to pit them against each other! So, we started the blog with cupcake wars and had special guests judge and rate them on various criteria like value for money, taste location and even philosophical questions,” she explains.

“When we had markets at Bab Al Bahrain, I wanted to review things so would include movie reviews, and even started a book club www.womanthismonth.com

PEOPLE | interview

Get to know Noor!

Favourite Music: Rock

and pop (since it has a broad spectrum)

Top 3 Music Artists:

Placebo, Panic at the Disco, Jungle

Favourite Food: Pizza

Hobbies: Watching things, listening to music, dancing by herself with close friends. Since it doesn’t have a formal style of writing to, I get to let loose and put a lot of humour into it. It’s kind of my personal avenue to be myself,” she elaborates.

The Radio Personality “We have a lot of interests and I have always loved music, so I did know in the back of my mind that I would love to be on the radio someday.”

Noor is now a renowned radio personality with her own show on Radio Bahrain, but was once a young girl with a love for music DJing at her friends’ birthday parties. “I have around 200 random playlists on Spotify that usually emerge from a vibe. I felt like I would someday be on the radio and have certain songs on my playlist,” she says with a smile.

When Radio Bahrain made a call for applications a few years ago, Noor jumped on the opportunity and auditioned. “It's been four years, but somehow it still feels like I'm the newest one there and I'm still learning.

You kind of think you're going to be perfect when you first start and everyone's going to think you're amazing, but there are so many little things you need to fix and I'm just learning as I go,” she reflects.

Taking on a number of time slots over the years has allowed Noor to explore and understand listeners’ preferences. “It’s interesting to see how different things are depending on the time of day – what fits the vibe and what people enjoy. It’s also encouraged me to stay in tune with who the biggest artists are, what the biggest songs are and other things going on in the music industry,” she says. www.womanthismonth.com

Her wide array of interests has translated seamlessly into a number of entertaining segments. “As part of these, I like to read really weird news segments during ‘Sunday Funday’. I also include top TV shows and films among others. I may not get immediate feedback but it’s the best feeling when you realise someone had been listening, paying attention and found it interesting,” she says.

The Presenter The widely broadcasted online music programme, Boiler Room, made its Bahrain debut in November last year, presenting Noor with a golden opportunity. “Public speaking has never bothered me, obviously since I’m on the radio. I always wanted to give MCing a try since it fit the skillset I already had, and it turned out that my first experience MCing would be at Boiler Room,” she says.

“It’s a really cool music event and something I already knew about since they’re huge on YouTube.”

watched a documentary called ‘The True Cost’ a few years ago which sent me into a spiral about how damaging the fashion industry is right now,” she explains.

“Once you see it, it's hard to unsee everything.

So anytime I want to buy something now, I try to find out where it came from. I feel like it’s important for more people to be aware and be given the tools to change things, for them to understand who makes our clothes and where they come from,” she elaborates.

When asked who her greatest inspiration is, Noor says: “Oh, there's no way that this is not a cheesy answer. My greatest inspiration is my husband. He really pushes me; I think if he wasn't around, I'd be very complacent.”

“I wouldn't take risks or take on any challenges. So, his ambition and his way of looking at life for me is a big inspiration to me,” she concludes.

Following her success at Boiler Room, Noor went on to MC a smaller beachside jazz festival early this year.

“After I went on stage at Boiler Room, people would sometimes come up to me and say that they recognised my voice. I’m not a celebrity in any way but perhaps my voice is famous,” she says modestly.

At the Heart of It All Aside from nurturing her creative talent, Noor is very passionate about the fast fashion industry and believes more people need to understand the adverse effects of the industry. “I April 2022

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PEOPLE | interview

STRIKING GOLD

Starting a business can be a daunting experience considering all the risks involved. That being said, with a good concept in hand, taking a leap of faith can be highly rewarding. This rings true for the Bahraini startup, My Gold Souq, which recently won top honours at a highly prestigious GCC-wide competition. Farah Baig speaks to My Gold Souq co-founder, Amy Vaya, about her family history, and her journey to conceptualising the award-winning business.

B

eing an ambitious woman and coming from a family that has a long-standing history in Bahrain’s gold industry, Amy Vaya always knew that she wanted to delve into entrepreneurship.

Ten years ago, when her friends quit their jobs to start their businesses, Amy wished to do the same but hadn’t zeroed in on her winning concept just yet. “I think when it came to it, my frustration in life was not that I didn't have a business so that I wasn't an entrepreneur, my sole level frustration was that I am an extremely creative, talented and intelligent person and these gifts were not being fully utilised,” she says.

An Entrepreneur at Heart Amy fulfilled her role at various full-time positions but still had a burning desire to start a business.

“When I was working a job, I would think that one unit of time equals one unit of money, but when you’re an entrepreneur one unit of time can be worth 10, 15, 200 units of money. With a full-time job, your return doesn’t change,” she says.

Hoping to be struck by a great idea, Amy went on to establish a couple of businesses that didn’t quite go as planned. “This is not really my first rodeo, but it's something that I always wanted, and that my brother Priyesh wanted too. So, when he moved back to Bahrain there was just this synergy,” she says.

That synergy, combined with the Vaya family’s understanding of Bahrain’s gold industry, struck gold with the founding of My Gold Souq - the region’s first direct-to-consumer jewellery platform. “Our family has been in Bahrain for four generations and my family business since 1937 is jewellery. My greatgrandfather came to Bahrain and was one of the first jewellers in the country, but the interesting thing in this story is that my father retired around 15 years ago as he did not feel that the business was worth passing on to his children. He couldn't figure out a way to modernise it and make it worth anybody's time,” she explains.

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PEOPLE | interview Improvise, Adapt, Overcome “When my brother and I got together, we realised that maybe the problem isn't with the business, but rather the way that it was done. This is an industry that hasn't been modernised in about 200 years,” she says.

When brainstorming, they considered various factors as they understood how difficult it was for the business owner. “Retail is very expensive, especially for this industry – you need to cover the costs for a storefront, electricity, bills, people’s salary, security and an inventory of at least 10 kilos of gold. We are cutting out all of that and pass on the savings to our customers,” she says.

In May 2020 they came up with the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for My Gold Souq, which invigorated the Kingdom’s modern-day gold industry. “In solving my dad's business problems, we are actually delivering something for the customer better prices, convenience, affordability, and stylish jewellery. Now we have a winning proposition!” she adds.

In addition, they hoped to eliminate the inconveniences associated with jewellery shopping. “Standing in a gold shop can be overwhelming with thousands of choices and having to ask for the price of each item.

On our site, it’s very transparent with the weight of the gemstone, gold, price and other details listed so you don’t have to ask anyone anything,” she explains.

“Sometimes shopkeepers charge customers different prices based on how they are dressed, or whether they are a man or a woman. With us, you could be in your pajamas shopping at four in the morning and would still be charged the same price because we are transparent,” she adds.

The Winning Concept They’ve since secured the first place in the Eureka! GCC competition, beating ten other GCC-based startups for the honour. Eureka!

GCC is the Gulf edition of Asia's largest business model competition, founded by the Entrepreneurship Cell of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, one of the world's leading educational institutions.

The 10 finalists were shortlisted from over 150 applicants and underwent two months of extensive training before the finale, which was held at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa at Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. All finalists were then hosted for a four-day programme in Dubai that included networking opportunities, pitch workshops, and a trip to Expo 2020 “It was really very affirming; it told us we are absolutely on the right track and need to keep going. The caliber of the competition was really amazing. So even before the results were announced just being around www.womanthismonth.com

like-minded people was confidence building. It really amplifies the effect of that little seed of selfbelief,” she says.

The startup, which was among the top five winners of the first cohort of the Standard Chartered Women in Tech Incubation Programme and was accelerated at Flat6Labs Bahrain, received USD25,000 in prize money to invest towards their business. “The startup ecosystem in Bahrain is actually quite good.

At Women in Tech they were able to help us grow our initial idea into so much more, since we received excellent training. I'm very grateful as the education was invaluable,” she says.

“One of the biggest struggles of being an entrepreneur is believing in yourself, you know?

They believed in us for us until we could do it for ourselves. You cannot put a price on that kind of encouragement and motivation,” she says, adding that they would not be able to grow their business to its current level without the quality of education received at Flat6Labs.

Feeling Fulfilled “I feel very fortunate to be able to hang out with my best friend in life all the time, and build this business with him. We have a great relationship; I couldn't have done it without him,” she says when asked how her experience of working with family has been.

She finds that their skillsets are complementary and that they have the perfect understanding when it comes to delegating work. “It’s the dream team. We definitely had some serious challenges, but what pulled me through was the fact that my brother was on my team. We were there for each other at the lowest moments and I think that's why a co-founder is very important because they will just get you to show up for another day,” she says

After years of pursuing her entrepreneurial dream, Amy now feels fulfilled. “My business actually uses all of the fragmented skills that I've picked up along the years and brings it into this one cohesive whole. It needs everything that I have ever learned or been good at, and that is a deeply satisfying feeling,” she says.

“A mediocre idea can be very successful if you just show up for it every day versus a very good idea that could just fizzle out into nothing because you failed to show up for it every day. That's really what it comes down to,” she concludes.

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BEAUTY | news

Ramadan

THE ‘NO MAKEUP’ LOOK

Embrace your natural self this holy month with the trendiest look out there, a ‘no makeup’ day makeup look! The secret to achieving this look is using as little product as possible. This look requires healthy looking skin that glows from deep within, so start with your usual skincare and don’t forget the sunblock!

We’ve curated a selection of products that will have you looking and feeling fresh this holy month. Ramadan Kareem to all our readers!

Start off with a bit of concealer like the ‘SKIN LOVIN’ CONCEALER’ by essence. Dot and blend the lightweight, noncomedogenic formula over dark circles, spots, and redness.

For fuller lips, check out essence’s ‘what the fake! EXTREME PLUMPING LIP FILLER’. This slightly tinted gloss will grant you fuller lips within seconds thanks to 0.3 percent chili extract!

It also nourishes with its vitamin e and hyaluronic acid. A few strokes of essence’s ‘DOUBLE TROUBLE’ volumising and curling mascara should finish your look.

Available at leading pharmacies and on www.essencemakeup.com.

QUENCH YOUR CURLS

SCENTS WITH CHARACTER

The Body Shop has just released their latest fragrance collection to embrace every personality. Dive nose first into five Eau de Toilettes from the Choice fragrance collection, which reintroduces iconic scents from best-selling Voyage and Scents of Life ranges.

Choose from Glowing Cherry Blossom, Blissful Strawberry, Wild Jasmine, Vibrant Bergamot and Rebel Rosebud – a collection of fruity, floral and fresh fragrances.

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Curls, coils, spirals…it’s no secret to those who have them that their hair sometimes has a mind of its own. Nevertheless, whatever the curl pattern, it only makes sense to use products that are designed with these special hair textures in mind. To look their best, curls should be handled with care. HASK’s Curl Care collection is designed with this in mind. Whether your strands are a 2B or 4C, the Curl Care collection guarantees the hydration and care your curls need.

The six-piece range is now a favourite among Hollywood hairstylists for styling, treating and nourishing curly hair. It features everything you’ll need on wash day including a moisturising shampoo, an intensive deep conditioner, and a curl-enhancing jelly. Each of the products are made using naturally-derived ingredients that include a miracle blend of Coconut Oil, Argan Oil and Vitamin E to hydrate and protect curls from damage and frizz.

Making the collection even more popular is the fact that the fragrances can be mixed and layered, are vegan certified and easier to recycle.

HASK’s Curl Care collection is vegan, cruelty-free and free of silicones, sulphates, parabens, phthalates, gluten, drying alcohol and artificial colours.

Available at The Body Shop stores across the GCC.

Available online on www.glambeaute.com.

April 2022

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bystander

Post-fiction: Manama Exhibition Al Riwaq held the opening of an art exhibition titled Post-fiction: Manama which turned the spotlight on Manama’s fictional narratives that have created a lasting impression on Bahrain. Prompted by the relocation of Al Riwaq to Manama, the exhibition offers varied interpretations of the realities that define Bahrain’s capital today, as opposed to sensationalized, nostalgic sentiments of its past. Participating artists included Mariam Al Noami, Ali Hussain, Jaffar Al Oraibi, Nasser Al Zayani and Hasan Hujairi.

www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

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LIFESTYLE | opinion

HOW TO RAISE EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT KIDS.

E

motional intelligence is critically important to everyone’s success and overall health; but how do you foster this emotional growth in your child? Knowing where to start can be daunting, especially if you haven’t experienced good emotional support in your own life. The good news is: it is possible for you—no matter your background—to promote increased emotional intelligence in your children and, in the process, raise healthy, happy children.

But first, let’s break down these two little words: emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is the ability to understand, regulate, and express one’s own emotions. Not only that, but it also refers to the ability to perceive, interpret, and respond to the emotions of others.

So, now that we better understand EQ, let’s dig into six ways to raise emotionally intelligent children:

Start with yourself You cannot help your children if you do not help yourself first. Take time to notice your emotions, triggers, and coping skills. Practice the following tools yourself before working on them with your children. After all, parenting is about continuous growth, right?

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What is Emotional Intelligence?

Ouiam El Hassani not only explains by imparts some sound advice on how we can raise emotionally intelligent children.

Name and honour feelings—yours and theirs Understanding, honouring, and naming feelings can start from the time your child is an infant and continue throughout childhood.

You can respond to their cues appropriately, practice facial expressions, and engage in active listening. You can use art, a feelings chart, books, or storytelling to support this process. Holding space for you and your children to experience feelings can take practice, especially with difficult emotions, like anger, jealousy, or sadness. So instead of getting down on yourself if you struggle, just take a deep breath, and begin again!

Show empathy Here are three super simple ways to start: 1- Share with your children when a loved one is struggling in an age-appropriate way.

2- Use real life examples to highlight empathy.

3- Encourage them to check on others.

Model and support healthy coping skills This concept goes back to the importance of taking care of yourself before you can take care of others. The best part is that, in taking care of yourself, you are helping your children learn by example. When your children see you

taking care of yourself through exercise, meditation, journaling, or socialising, they learn that they can engage in those things as well.

Teach and model social skills Have you let your friendships go now that you are a parent? No matter where you are in this journey, you can support yourself and your children by engaging in healthy social relationships. Take time out to make that phone call, go to dinner, or check out the new restaurant with a friend or say “no” when you need to. Watching you navigate social situations is an incredible learning opportunity for them.

Engage in emotionally intelligent play Play is the language through which children learn. Yes, even teenagers, because play isn’t just play; it’s a window into your child’s inner world. Use it as a tool to get to know and support them. For younger children, try engaging in imaginary play with specific scenarios you want to teach. For older children, play typically takes shape in the form of a video game, board game or sport.

Finally, when it comes to emotional intelligence, the one tool that is absolutely irreplaceable is books. Reading is a wonderful way to teach, learn and grow for you and your children. www.womanthismonth.com

LIFESTYLE | food

SCRUMPTIOUS SPRING SALADS Eating healthy these days can be such a challenge, especially with time being a precious commodity! These easy-to-make salads are an excellent option for lunch or dinner any time of the week.

Baby spinach and pear salad Mediterranean Salad

This refreshingly light, and nutritious tuna salad is the perfect addition to your dinner and takes only 15 minutes to make.

Ingredients (4 servings)

2 cans light tuna in water, drained 1 can borlotti/pinto beans, drained 1 head of lettuce 1 cup red cabbage 1 cup cherry tomatoes 3 tbsps olive oil 2 tbsps freshly squeezed lemon juice ½ tsp lemon zest ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp ground black pepper

Preparation 1.Thoroughly wash your lettuce and cabbage before

spinning dry in a salad dryer and coarsely chopping them before placing them in a large salad bowl.

2.Top it off with halved cherry tomatoes and the pinto beans.

3.In a separate bowl combine the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper to make a light and refreshing salad dressing.

4.Drizzle half the mixture over the drained tuna chunks so it may absorb the dressing, reserving the rest to be drizzled over the salad as per taste.

5.Top the salad with the tuna and toss before serving. www.womanthismonth.com

Salty, sweet and tangy – this salad has all the flavours to make it a favourite for the whole family and possibly when entertaining friends too.

Ingredients (4 servings)

1 packet baby spinach 2 ripe pears 1 cup pecans 1/2 cup feta cheese 2 tbsps dried cranberries 2 tbsps olive oil 2 tbsps freshly squeezed lemon juice ¼ tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Preparation 1.Wash and dry the baby spinach in a salad dryer.

2.Wash, core and slice the pears before placing it in a large salad bowl with the baby spinach.

3.Lightly toast the pecans in a hot pan and allow them to cool.

4.Add the cranberries, crumbled feta and cooled pecans to the salad.

5.Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl and drizzle over the salad. Toss the salad well and enjoy!

Did you like this recipe?

Be sure to check out the ‘Food’ section on Woman This Month for more exciting recipes that you can try.

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skincare

RESTORATIVE SKINCARE! 5 products to detox, restore and renew your skin.

GO NATURAL WITH IXORA

Pollutants, lack of sleep, stress and sun exposure are just some of the factors that affect the appearance of our skin. A skincare routine consisting of high-quality products is essential to combat these factors and maintain its health and appearance. Here are some of our favourite products that will have you looking your best.

Embark on a skin detox journey with Ixora’s award-winning, natural and certified beauty products. Developed by pharmacist Dr. Nader Sheasha and a team of world-class personal care technologists, the luxurious product range focuses on ingredients with the maximum concentration of organic botanical extracts.

DISCOVER THE ULTIMATE CLEAN BEAUTY ANTIAGING SKINCARE TRIO TO CELEBRATE YOUR SPECIAL WOMEN THIS MARCH NUME-Lab an Anti-Aging Solution Ageing is the number one concern for women across the globe. NUME-Lab Switzerland is a Swiss made ethically conscious skincare brand that upholds its values of clean, minimalistic and effective skincare that seems to have the solution for just that.

NUME-Lab’s Resurfacing Night Peel Serum is an effective and reliable way to get rid of aging skin signs and fade hyperpigmentation and dark spots. The Night Peel stimulates fibroblasts to produce increased amounts of collagen giving that perfect natural, clean and glowing look!

Available on www.nume-lab.com.

Ixora’s Deep Moisturising Face Cream is formulated with Scandinavian Red Algae compounds, Rosehip Seed Oil, Coconut Oil and other ingredients that promote the synthesis of natural hyaluronic acid of the skin and hydrate the deepest layers in a unique way.

Available on www.thesecretskin.com.

CARBON THEORY’S BREAKOUT-CONTROL

HEALTHY AND HYDRATED WITH FOREO

Protect your skin against the elements and drive away dull and dry skin with FOREO. Paired with FOREO’S UFO 2, this Manuka Honey mask is perfect for the winter months to lock moisture into your skin.

Hailing all the way from New Zealand, Manuka Honey is a natural humectant, meaning it naturally seals in moisture while giving your skin a glow that lasts!

Available at Sephora and www.foreo.com.

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Whether you’ve been combating Acne throughout your teenage years, or suffer from occasional breakouts as an adult – finding the right products for troubled skin is tough. Carbon Theory, a breakthrough skincare range for Acne is created with all-natural, vegan and cruelty-free formulations that respond to specific needs and skin concerns.

We love the brand’s award-winning Cleansing Bar which is anchored in a potent ingredient blend of tea tree oil, activated charcoal and shea butter.

Its highly effective yet gentle formula reduces any inflammation or irritation to the skin whilst keeping it nourished.

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HELLO, GOOD STUFF!

Need a quick and fun skin fix after a stressful week? The HELLO, GOOD STUFF! FACE MASK by essence is a refreshing jelly texture face mask that will make your tired skin look fresher and suppler in no time!

The moisturising cucumber water will add radiance to your skin after two to three minutes of application.

This mask contain at least 95 percent natural ingredients, is vegan and free of microplastics, parabens, PEGs and mineral oil!

Available at www.noon.com and www.amazon.ae. www.womanthismonth.com

last word

In Her Shoes

Are there any hobbies you enjoy?

I love lists! I make lists for just about everything. Apart from that, I am obsessed with cleaning.

If I have to unwind, I either clean or do activities involving nature.

I also enjoy watching the news, socialising and helping people.

Kaur has s a student, Harpreet wa e sh ce sin ia ed m t e abou all things media.

Having been passionat developing her skills in sly lou cu eti m s ar ye specialist, spent the last eight media and marketing l ita dig d an st, ali rn jou When she’s After growing to be a mee Group of Hotels.

Ra at g tin ke ar M r ste sh of of Clu ture, people and the ru na Harpreet is now Head r fo e lov r he in ing she’s bask not dabbling in media, r life this month.

We take a peek into he . es nc rie pe ex w ne enjoying

Cats or dogs?

This is like asking my parents who their favorite child is! I want both and a whole lot of them.

What is your proudest achievement?

I am most proud of the woman I am becoming. I don’t want to define the achievement by one specific moment, but rather the journey. It’s definitely due to all the strong and beautiful women around me who have supported and inspired me – especially my mum!

What’s one song or movie that never fails to inspire you?

These are songs that have never failed to inspire me: • You are Made of Wonder – Emily Sande ft. Naughty Boy • Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan • Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen – Baz Luhrmann

The best piece of advice you have ever received was:

Harpreet

If you could be granted three wishes, what would they be?

• To travel all across the world • For the pandemic to end and, • This one is harder to attain, but I wish I had a magic wand to fix climate change and the environment.

www.womanthismonth.com

My journalism professor always used to say “It’s all in the head”.

In Journalism School we spent hours working in remote areas of India in extreme climate conditions. So, our professor used to tell us that no matter how insecure, tired, sad or angry we were, if we could manage to convince our mind otherwise, we would be able to do anything. So, your comfort zone and your biggest fears are all just in the head.

Do you have a hidden talent?

What is your dream holiday destination?

Spain

I am extremely good at organising, cleaning, and give great head massages.

April 2022

65

bystander advertisers index Now you’ve seen your regular issue, which we hope you enjoyed, make sure to check out our websites and social media for daily updates of what’s happening across the Kingdom. You can find us at:

Hotels & Serviced Residences Al Areen Palace & Spa . . . . . . . . . . .

Ramee Grand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Lost Paradise of Dilmun . . . . . . .

The Ritz Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa

Medical & Dental Services Royal Bahrain Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . .

Motoring

Al Haddad Motors (Mercedes) . . . . .

Others

Alhayat Perfume Co W.L.L (Kolmaz Paris) Energie Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Midway Supermarket . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mohammed Fakhroo & Bros (Philips)

Restaurants & Cafes

Maki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

bahrainthismonth.com

womanthismonth.com womanthismonth

bahrainthismonth

Scan the QR code for more information from the advertisers

IFC 24, 61 31 7 11

1Al Areen Palace & Spa

Al Haddad Motors

The Diplomat Hotel

Mohammed Fakhroo & Bros

Maki Restaurants Group Co.

The Lost Paradise of Dilmun

Royal Bahrain Hospital

The Ritz Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa

Ramee Grand

Midway Supermarket

Energie Fitness

9

3

13 41 33 15

29

Kolmaz Paris

RP Group of Companies

Shamsathon

Throughout the month of March, Shamsaha celebrated women in line with International Women’s Day. Thus, in collaboration with the Bahrain Rugby and Football Club, Shamsaha hosted a sports and wellness family day with the name Shamsa’thon to create awareness of the importance of taking care of ourselves through different fitness activities and wellness talks, and to raise funds for Shamsaha humanitarian mission. All proceeds raised through the event went towards Shamsaha to support the organisations various women-empowering activities.

66 April 2022 66 April 2022

www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery www.bahrainthismonth.com

bystander

KAL International Bahrain held a lunch at The Gulf Hotel for the Annual Layman’s Lunch hosted by the Gulf Hotel - a project to help and SKAL Lunch Ssupport Bahraini needy families during the holy month of Ramadan

Restaurant Opening & Art Exhibition The British Club held an event to mark

the opening of the restaurant, Outside Inn. The event included an art exhibition which featured the works of Jane Walker. Proceeds from the art sales will go to The RIA Institute, which caters to the needs of students of autism.

located in Juffair, held a pre-opening party for Go! Go! Tiger! Pre-opening AGo!rmanGo!Hotel, Tiger! – an addition to Bahrain’s nightlife scene.

www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

April 2022 67

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