Bahrain This Month - May 2021

TECHNOLOGY - ENTERTAINMENT - DINING

Since 1997

May 2021 | Vol. 25

| Issue 5 | BD2 / SR20

YOUR GUIDE TO A GREAT WAY OF LIFE

EID SPECIAL

DINING

MOTORING

Here’s where you can dine this Eid

Dick Potter test drives the Ferrari Roma

PEOPLE

WTM

Mariam Alammadi tells us about how Afkarech has impacted society

The Rotary Club of Salmaniya’s incoming President and current Chairman of the Fundraising Committee, Faisal Juma, tells us about the club’s plans

Artist, Narmeen Albaker, tells us about her recent exhibit

Danny Sokov tells us about the short film Dajjal

Beauty Essentials Exciting Eid Fashion!

We get to know the young astronomy enthusiast, Adam Ali Abdulhadi

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Arts

Culture

Clubs

Sports

Interviews

Lifestyle

Dining

Nightlife

Digital Edition

bystander

Iftar at La Plage, The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain celebrated the spirit of

Ramadan in spectacular fashion with an iftar at La Plage. The event was attended by members of the media and invited guests. The event featured a lavish spread, including a variety of Ramadan favourites, expertly put together by the luxury hotel’s culinary team.

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May 2021 3

bystander

The #ArtforAutism Art Exhibition In observance of World Autism Awareness month, the Rotaract Bahrain continue their support for the cause and organised a charitable art exhibition. #ArtforAutism - an art exhibit combining works of established and upcoming artists in Bahrain was held at The Lagoon, Amwaj. All the proceeds collected from the exhibit will be donated to organise art classes for students with autism.

4 May 2021

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INTERVIEWS

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MAY CONTENTS

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ISSUE 285

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CONTENTS

42

Exquisitely elegant fashion choices to celebrate the joyous occasion of Eid.

Interview

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We have an insightful chat with the founder of Afkarech, Mariam Alammadi, about the group and its tireless work to make a positive impact on the community.

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Guest artist at Bahrain’s recent Love & Inspire Art Exhibition, Narmeen Albaker, tells us about the inspiration behind her art and her experience painting with her daughter.

Beauty

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The latest of perfumes and makeup products.

Julia Knight tells us about the importance of wellbeing in the field of education.

Lifestyle

56

A delicious recipe for mushroom soup.

Parenting

54 www.bahrainthismonth.com bahrainthismonth www.bahrainthismonth.com

Skincare that will have you glowing!

Education

51

Ouiam explains how we can deal with kids using unacceptable words.

bhthismonth

We meet with the spectacularly intelligent, young astronomy enthusiast, Adam Ali Abdulhadi, who recently captured the hearts of citizens across Bahrain

FEATURE Joyful Festivities

WOMAN THIS MONTH FASHION

Kristian Harrison spoke to the Rotary Club of Salamaniya’s incoming President and current Chairman of the Fundraising Committee, Faisal Juma, about the club’s plans once he assumes the hotseat in July.

Bahrain’s Boy Genius!

14 42

Farah Baig has a chat with Danny Sokov, the filmmaker behind the short film Dajjal which was filmed in Bahrain.

Offering A Helping Hand

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21

Ready for the Big Screen!

Planning on enjoying the festivities with your family this year can be challenging. We put together some suggestions that we’re sure will make this Eid one to remember (despite the challenges).

DINING

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We discover the epitome of Japanese fine dining in Bahrain at Maki.

The best of dining options this month, including some excellent options to celebrate Eid.

MOTORING

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The Perfect GT Sports Car?

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Sabine Schmitz. 1969-2021.

Dick Potter takes the Ferrari Roma for a spin!

Dick Potter remembers the phenomenal motor racing driver, Sabine Schmitz.

Motoring Bites

COMMERCE

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E-Waste – How we consume and manage it.

Business expert, Pria Masson Tanwar, talks about how to deal with old laptops and other e-waste in a responsible way.

Business Bites May 2021 5

THE TEAM Publisher and Chairman George F. Middleton

Bahrain This Month May 2021

Editor Farah Baig Contributors Behnaz Sanjana, Kristian Harrison, Dick Potter, Pria Masson Tanwar, Ouiam Charkani El Hassani, Bill Grieve Editorial Consultant Ahdeya Ahmed

W

elcome to the May edition. While things have been picking up around the island, unfortunately, so have the number of active cases! That being said, there is some hope in the fact that over half a million citizens have been fully inoculated since the start of the vaccination drive. Does this mean there’s an end in sight to our plight in Bahrain?

Print Production Manager Sabu Sebastian Art Director Hatem Monem Webmaster Nishad Eapen

That being said, we’ve had a lovely Ramadan dining at some of the Kingdom’s top hospitality properties, with all safety measures in place, of course! And looking forward, we have some exciting dining options for you and your loved ones this Eid; granted that you will have to keep the new measures in mind.

CRM & Database Coordinator Muna Yousef Staff Photographer Subeesh Kumar N S

We also had a spectacular dining experience at the innovative fusion Japanese restaurant, Maki. There are plenty of good reasons why it’s one of our favourite dining venues on the island.

Administration and Finance Samson Vaz, Marlyn Ragasa Corporate Affairs Director Bassem A. Al Khabbaz

In our interview section this month, we had a chat with our own prolific filmmaker extraordinaire, Danny Sokov, who recently finished filming a short film, Dajjal, in the Kingdom. In addition, we caught up with the little genius, Adam Ali Abdulhadi, a young astronomy enthusiast who will be filming an informative series with Bahrain’s National Space Science Agency. We also spoke to Faisal Juma, the Rotary Club of Bahrain’s incoming President and current Chairman of the Fundraising Committee, about the club’s upcoming virtual events and community projects.

Distribution Team CM Abdul Rahman, Gopal Arul Kumar Distributor Al Hilal Group (Hilal Direct Services) Media Sales Anuradha Manhas anuradha@redhousemarketing.com

In our Motoring section, Dick Potter, had an exhilarating test drive with Ferrari and also paid tribute to the motoring legend, Sabine Schmitz. We also had Pria Masson Tanwar give us some guidance on what we could do with our e-waste.

DIGITAL & CONTENT MARKETING TEAM Digital Strategy Director Lini Reghunath Digital Marketing & Social Media Executive Farah Baig

In Woman This Month, our editorial team explored some vibrant fashion for Eid. We also had the pleasure of speaking to the founder of Afkarech, Mariam Alammadi, who gave us some insight on how this group of highly-driven women have impacted society. In addition, we spoke to the artist Narmeen Albaker, about her collaborative art with her daughter at the recent Love and Inspire exhibition. We also bring you the best of beauty essentials, skincare and more!

Despite the challenges that the current pandemic has presented the Kingdom with, our beautiful island

Printing Press Union Press, Bahrain

continues to be as charming and eventful as ever. That being said, remember that Bahrain This Month

Published monthly by

will always be “Your Guide to a Great Way of Life”.

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COVER Cover Picture:

Eid Al-Fitr

George F. Middleton Publisher and Chairman

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May 2021 7

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Rapid Fire Video Shoot with the Lulu Group International Director

For our exciting three-minute RAPID FIRE interview with Lulu Group International Director, Mr. Juzer Rupawala, our team led by our Publisher, Mr. George F. Middleton visited the Lulu Hypermarket head office in Bahrain. Here’s a brief look behind the scenes.

Capital Governorate Ramadan Initiative in Cooperation with NGOs and Charities Under the Patronage of HE Sheikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, Governor of Capital Governorate, the Capital Governorate continued to distribute food boxes and iftar meals to the needy in cooperation with NGOs and charity societies.

8 May 2021

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Abdullateef Khalid AlAujan & Sons Group Staff Party

In light of Covid 19 restrictions, Abdullateef Khalid AlAujan & Sons Group held a small staff party for one of its divisions at Al Dar Islands.

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May 2021 9

interview

Ready for the Big Screen!

Farah Baig has a chat with Danny Sokov, the filmmaker behind the short film Dajjal which was filmed in Bahrain.

T

he Kingdom of Bahrain has long been home to a myriad of creatives, each a master of their own craft - be it literature, art, music or filmmaking. However, we believe it takes a stroke of genius and an even more generous helping of creativity to etch a name out for yourself in the film industry. We had a sit down with the prolific filmmaker Danny Sokov, who not only wrote the script for the recentlycompleted shortfilm Dajjal, but acted in and directed it too.

You’ve been a filmmaker for 10 years now.

Could you tell us a little bit about what attracted you to the film industry?

My love for all things film stretches way back to when we first moved to Bahrain in the early 90s. I tend to say that TV was basically my third parent. I learned English thanks to Disney movies, Cartoon Network and MTV. I studied at the British School, during which time a lot of my expat friends from the UK introduced me to shows like Blackadder, Monty Python, The Young Ones, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, the early Graham Linehan works – all of which still highly influence my writing and humour. The first film that really ignited my desire to be a filmmaker was Terry Gilliam’s The Fisher King. I’ve watched it at least 20 times and even wrote essays about it during my university courses.

That’s quite interesting. What led you to take up a role in the industry?

10 May 2021

For a long time I wanted to act, but I had a very trusted mentor advise me to learn what happens behind the camera first.

Once I had a taste of film editing, there was really no going back. I first started with editing together these little music videos, where I’d cut scenes out of different films and structure them over a song, making the images convey the lyrics. Then I started doing that with footage I’d capture myself, and it all grew from there.

Even now, though I can handle any role in filmmaking, I consider myself an editor above all, and a screenwriter second. Those were the two areas in which I specialised in university.

Tell us more about your experience in university.

I did Film Studies at the university of Kent in Canterbury, under the tutelage of some incredible filmmakers and mentors. My second year was especially formative thanks to my practical Documentary course under New York avant-garde director Margaret Salmon, as well as my Screenwriting course under BAFTAnominated director Clio Barnard. She also

gave me my first on-set experience during the production of her second BAFTA nominated film, The Selfish Giant.

What’s your experience in Bahrain’s media been like so far?

After a five-year stint in London, I came back to Bahrain in 2017 and, in a way, had to start all over again; so, I rebranded and went into corporate and advertising. Adverts, promos, event coverage, documentaries… – I’ve handled a whole variety of projects for clients in a range of sectors. There was a great niche here for what I could offer. I also took up teaching and ran several filmmaking workshops in collaboration with ProSky.

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interview Aside from that experience, I was hired by Bahrain’s Sharaka Bloc to run their media during the 2018 Chamber of Commerce and Industry elections for the Board of Directors.

The campaign was very successful and led to Ahmed Saloom coming back and hiring me for his Parliament run, which he also won by a landslide. Earlier this year, I did the advert for His Majesty’s Endurance Race which aired on Bahrain TV all throughout the event.

Now, what’s the story behind Dajjal? How did you get involved?

The pandemic has been difficult for me, professionally, however I came across an ad that announced the French Embassy and Alliance Francaise were organising a screenwriting workshop, the winner of which would get their film made by Blu Steel films.

I couldn’t miss the opportunity. After close to a decade of purely commission-based work, I felt it was the right time to attempt something entirely my own, creatively.

I’d had the idea for this film for over seven years. It went through many detail changes, but the core concept always remained, and was one I’ve always come back to. It started as an idea for a feature film, but when I was made aware of this screenwriting workshop, I told myself that it was “now or never”.

the production. He’s rightfully deserving of his reputation. Some of his scenes were done in one take. His presence, his professionalism, his humour and his humility really shone through during the whole process.

Behind the scenes, the team assembled was also incredible - Ali “Fingerz” Esbai doesn’t switch off for a single second until the shoot is done, DOP Hussain Al Khunaizi was nothing short of a beast and Mohamed Fakhro from Blu Steel films, who served as producer, was there every hour of every day ensuring that everything ran as smooth as possible.

And of course, a huge thank you goes out to Marianne and Emmanuel Mayer, the organisers of the initial screenwriting competition, without whose input none of this would’ve even been possible in the first place.

And finally, you make an appearance in Dajjal too. How did that happen?

A last minute decision led to myself taking on the role of the Djinn. I have an acting background but didn’t plan on acting in the film at all, especially since I don’t speak fluent Arabic. However, this decision led to many fun, creative changes in the script.

It’s quite exciting that Dajjal has been filmed in Bahrain. Could you tell us more about the shortfilm?

The story is my personal take on the idea of “be careful what you wish for”. The film runs for 11m30 and follows a young Arabic boy, Isa, who is so burdened by his everyday family life that he inadvertently summons a Djinn, and subsequently lives out the consequences of his wishes. It’s the first work of fiction that I’ve directed, as well as was my first time in charge of an entire production team. Everyone was spectacular in their roles, everything ran absolutely smoothly.

The film was officially screened in April to invited guests and friends and family of the cast and crew. We intend to submit the film to a number of renowned international film festivals.

Tell us about the cast and crew.

The lead role of Isa was played by Majd Al Aradi, a great young talent. He’s a theatre kid and this was his first film role. In my mind, he encapsulated the character perfectly, just as I envisioned him. Seasoned Bahraini actress Lamia Al Shuwaikh played the mother, Mariam, and really brought the perfect range of emotions to the different realities we created in the story.

And of course we had Bahraini screen legend Qahtan Al Qahtani playing the father, Yousif. It was a huge privilege to have him be a part of www.bahrainthismonth.com

May 2021 11

interview

OFFERING A HELPING HAND The Kingdom of Bahrain has always been renowned for its charitable societies and endeavours. Kristian Harrison spoke to the Rotary Club of Salmaniya’s incoming President and current Chairman of the Fundraising Committee, Faisal Juma, about the club’s plans once he assumes the hotseat in July.

T

he Rotary Club of Salmaniya has a long history of fundraising and organising community projects in the Kingdom.

Inaugurated on April 15, 1971, the first meeting was held on April 28 of that year at the Delmon Hotel with 30 charter members, nine of whom were the Board of Directors led by the first President, HH Shaikh Isa Bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.

On June 9, 1971, the formal admission was received from Rotary International and this is considered as the founding date of the Salmaniya branch. The presentation of the Club’s Charter took place on December 16, 1971 – Bahrain’s first National Day following independence from Britain.

As such, the organisation is proudly celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and Faisal is busy organising a slate of fundraising events, with proceeds to go towards important community projects. The club currently has 60 members, ten of which are women and also inducted two new members this year.

raini nationals or Bahrain-based talent of all ages and feature a wide array of artists, bands and more.

Finally, there will be a Quiz Night to be held in December. Faisal is also hoping to reapply for the F45 Playoffs later in the year when the Covid-19 situation is hopefully clearer.

“At all of these events, our sponsors can showcase their company names and logos, and we will also offer them social media coverage such as posts on Facebook and Instagram,” Faisal explained.

Ultimately, the funds raised at these events will go towards the community projects run by the Rotary Club of Salmaniya. This includes the Greenhouse Project, where seeds are planted by children from the Autistic and Down Syndrome Societies, whom are then brought back later in the year for them to harvest the crops that they’ve grown.

Furthermore, there is the Dream House Project, where the club chooses a couple of houses per year to renovate.

Faisal explained: “There are a number of unfortunate people in Bahrain who live in poorly-maintained houses as they cannot afford repairs, so after we check the title deeds for ownership, we completely change the houses, redecorate rooms and improve the quality of the building.

“I also aim to run a couple of training and vocational programmes for those who have struggled to find employment during the pandemic, helping them to find jobs and revamp their CVs.” The Rotary Club of Salmaniya’s weekly meetings are held every Wednesday for luncheons; doors open at 12.45pm and the meeting starts at 1.15pm sharp, ending at 2.15pm. Regular meeting details are updated every two weeks in advance and the venue is available on the website: www.rcsalmaniya.org, email: info@ rcsalmaniya.org. You can also follow them on their official Instagram account @rotarysalmaniya or on Facebook and Twitter using the handle @rotaryofsulmaniya.

“Our most famous and biggest annual event is the Raft Race which is organised at Al Bander. However, this year it had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I therefore had an idea to do a virtual weightlifting event with F45 Bahrain at the Kick-Off Academy in Saar, but the proposal was rejected for the time being by the Ministry of Health.

“Ultimately, I came up with an alternative (to the alternative!) which is four virtual events, where our sponsors can showcase their company names and logos.”

The first of these is a Sponsor’s Appreciation Day, planned for the last week of June, where a presentation will be delivered thanking sponsors for their support and a discussion of the Club’s upcoming charitable projects.

This will be followed by a Rotary Awareness Day, pencilled in for August, which will be a way to introduce members of the public to the Rotary Club and encourage them to join.

In November, a ‘Bahrain’s Got Talent’ night will be staged, which will be open to Bah-

12 May 2021

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bystander

Curtain Raiser for India@75 Celebrations

The Indian Embassy held a curtain raiser event at their premises in Seef District, to mark the start of the India@75 celebrations, which will mark 75 years of India’s independence.

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May 2021 13

Eid feature

l u f Josytivities...

Fe the safe way

We put together some suggestions that we’re sure will make this Eid Al Fitr one to remember, while keeping you and your family safe!

Celebrating Eid this year is sure to be a challenge. While we will have a nice long weekend to enjoy with family and friends, it’s important to be responsible. We put together a few suggestions for our readers so you can avoid the possible rush and stay safe. Remember, it’s important not to gather in large groups for the safety of those more vulnerable to the virus- especially the elderly!

VISIT THE ROYAL CAMEL FARM This sprawling farm is home to hundreds of gentle camels and lets you stay socially-distanced while having a good time! Located on Janabiya Highway, this camel farm lets you observe the attitude, sounds and stature of these gentle creatures (as long as you are not too close for their comfort!). If you’re lucky, you can ask one of the attendants to help you feed them too. The farm is open every day from 8am-5pm, and entry is free. Parking and washroom facilities are available on-site.

14 May 2021

ENJOY AN EID COOK-OFF WITH YOUR FAMILY

Why not change things up on one day of Eid this year? If you plan on staying in, you could have a cook off with your family! Have each person (including the little ones) cook one dish, it could be an appetisers, main course, dessert or even a refreshing beverage.

You could end up with a feast! If things don’t work out, there’s always our dining listings to help out. Just remember to keep the new restrictions in mind. www.bahrainthismonth.com

Eid feature

ENJOY A BIT OF HISTORY AT QALAT AL BAHRAIN Also known as the Bahrain Fort, located not far from Seef Mall, this UNESCO World Heritage site provides you with the perfect opportunity to learn more about the Kingdom’s past. If you visit by night, you’ll have a collection of muse-worthy pictures. The ancient archways lit up by spot lights give a surreal vibe to the location. The monument is open from 8am-8pm. There are a lot of open spaces, so you won’t have to worry about getting too close to anyone else! We personally enjoy the contrast between the historical site and the modern skyline from certain vantage points.

MARVEL AT THE AL FATEH GRAND MOSQUE Eid is the perfect time to marvel at a stunning structure which is reflective

of the faith. One of the largest mosques in the world, this sprawling structure can welcome 7,000 people at a time. It’s usually open to visitors from 9am-4pm all week except on Fridays. However, with current restrictions in place, it is currently closed for tours, according to the official website, but you can enjoy a virtual in a variety of languages when visiting www.alfatehbh.net.

Marvel at the fine Italian marble, Austrian glass and Indian teakwood, and study the play of light and shadow as the sun’s rays enter in from the Arabesque windowpanes – all from the safety of your home.

PLAN A SOCIALLY-DISTANCED MOVIE NIGHT The need of the hour is social-distancing, so if you do wish to meet friends and family, you could perhaps plan a wonderful movie night in the safety of your home. Remember to be responsible – stay socially distanced, wear mask, sanitise regularly and don’t host a large group of people! If you are handing out snacks, it would be ideal to provide each guest with their own pack of snacks rather than sharing bowls, packs of chips and more. You can check out our film reviews for suggestions! www.bahrainthismonth.com

ENJOY THE LATEST OFFERINGS FROM NESPRESSO! Nespresso has introduced its first seasonal coffee from Nicaragua featuring a fermentation technique, ‘Master Origin Nicaragua La Cumplida Refinada’, as part of the legendary Master Origins range.

The delightfully flavourful coffee is available at Nespresso’s boutique at City Centre Bahrain.

In addition, if you can visit the boutique before Ramadan ends, you can make the most of their exciting offers which includes exciting freebies! You can get a free box of Nespresso’s flavourful orange biscuits if you purchase ten sleeves, a free cup on the purchase of twenty sleeves or a free mini Nespresso machine when you purchase 40 sleeves. They would make the perfect gift this Eid! May 2021 15

interview

BAHRAIN’S BOY GENIUS!

We meet with the spectacularly intelligent, young astronomy enthusiast, Adam Ali Abdulhadi, who recently captured the hearts of citizens across Bahrain.

A

t just five-years-old, Adam Ali Abdulhadi has captured the hearts of many citizens across the Kingdom of Bahrain. With his deep knowledge of the universe, the young boy creates a lasting impression that leaves adults and children alike in awe.

Adam is full of facts and figures when it comes to the universe and tells every avid listener about blackholes, stars, exoplanets and more. “Adam’s fascination with the universe started a year ago; he would repeatedly draw the Solar System and explain the colours and sizes of the planets,” explains his mother, Reem Hasan Ahmed.

When he was just two-years-old, Adam showed an interest in planes. “I used to take him near the airport to watch planes take off and, in a way, it all might have started with his obsession with fans when he was a baby,” she says.

In fact, HM the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, recently met with young Adam to discuss his dreams and ambitions. “Adam’s meeting with HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad was inspiring. HH showed great support to Adam and encouraged him to continue learning.

The atmosphere was very friendly and Adam felt very comfortable to ask questions and discuss the Universe,” she says.

His most significant collaboration, to date, is with the Bahrain Youth Astronomical Group and Bahrain Researchers for the Young Astronomer Competition, which was conducted on social media throughout Ramadan. “During the competition, Adam presented 30 different series during the whole month talking about different topics on each day which would be followed by a trivia question and a winner would be picked on each day,” she explains.

Adam’s popularity grew as he was featured in local newspapers and his following grew on his informative Instagram account which was initially a private account for friends and family. “Adam is keen on learning as much as he can about space which he considers to be among the most important branches of Science these days,” she says.

Adam’s short-terms plans include visiting the Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashed Space Agency in the UAE and coming up with a series of workshops for schools. “I think it is important to connect with a young audience and what better way to do it than through schools?

I also hope Adam can eventually do some outdoor stargazing, storytelling and arts and crafts activities as the situation improves,” she says.

Adam has also shown an affinity for Geography and can identify 130 flags aside from locating the countries on the map, with ease! “In the long run… well, it is hard to say at this point; Adam’s interests might change, but I am here to support him either way. If it is to be space science and becoming an astronaut, so shall it be. I just hope we will be able to foster the love for learning he has,” she concluded.

With an ever-growing knowledge of all things astronomy, Adam now has an exciting upcoming project through which he will be filming a special program to explain some space topics to students.

“The series of workshops will be arranged by the Ministry of Education’s Talented Students Centre and Bahrain’s National Space Science Agency (NSSA) for talented primary school students,” she says.

16 May 2021

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bystander

Capital Governorate Ramadan Charity Campaign The Capital Governorate launched

its annual Ramadan campaign under the patronage of HE Sheikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, the Governor of the Capital Governorate.

The campaign aims to distribute iftar meals and food boxes to the needy.

Under the ‘Together We Care’ initiative, more than 15,000 hot Iftar meals will be handed out during the holy month to representatives of various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) by the Capital Governorate.

THE BEST SOURCE FOR ALL THINGS GIRLY AND FABULOUS

Beauty Fashion Home Wellbeing Local Issues www.womanthismonth.com

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May 2021 17

bystander

Media Iftar at Salero Bahrain

An iftar was held for members of the media and selected guests at the Spanish Restaurant, Salero Bahrain which is located at The Westin City Centre Bahrain. Salero Bahrain provides guests with an informal modern Spanish dining concept, where live entertainment and cooking take place in a social atmosphere.

Media Ghabga at Wyndham Grand Manama Wyndham Grand Manama, located at Bahrain Bay, held a Ghabga at the Executive Lounge to mark the month of Ramadan. Members of the press and invited guests enjoyed a wonderful spread of seasonal favourites during the event.

18 May 2021

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review

THE EPITOME OF FINE DINING - MAKI Farah Baig experiences the height of culinary innovation with Maki’s exciting take on Japanese food.

O

n our hunt for a culinary extravaganza this month, our tastebuds were wooed by true creativity at Maki - a renowned Japanese fusion restaurant located at the Bahrain World Trade Centre.

The interiors and hospitality, courtesy of our host Glen, are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the fine dining experience at Maki. Glen explained that we’d be trying a curation of new items on the menu aside from some crowd favourites.

I prepped my tastebuds with a refreshing Virgin Strawberry Mojito for what I would soon learn was a Japanese feast. To whet our appetite, we dug into the Oliver Maki Salad - a blend of fresh salmon, crabsticks, avocado, iceberg lettuce and more in Maki’s special virgin olive oil mixture.

For our appetiser we enjoyed the Shrimp N Filo Nest which was delightfully crunchy and has the perfect balance of flavours with a touch of sweetness from the sauces. Next was the Tsurai Shake Sashimi, which is nothing short of a work of art; the salmon is embellished with truffle pearls, pozu sauce and green chili and is best enjoyed with a squeeze of fresh lime dusted with spicy Togarashi powder which adds another dimension of flavour. Overall, the sashimi was melt-inyour-mouth divine with the perfect amount of acidity and pleasant spiciness.

The Thea Nigiri Sushi is perfect for those who prefer their Japanese cuisine with cooked seafood as it’s topped off with torched salmon, flavourful eel paste, cool slices of avocado, more of the spicy Togarashi and a generous drizzle of special virgin olive oil. This was followed by the Aishu Maki - masterfully draped in a tangy olive and tomato wrap with brown rice and salmon – one of the healthy options on the menu.

Maki does nothing by half measure, so next we enjoyed the Sushi Symphony - five distinct sushis, each very different from the next in terms of toppings, texture and flavour profiles. It truly is a symphony with the vegetarian, tuna, salmon, white fish and Hamachi sushis sporting a medley of wildly different toppings at the chef’s discretion – a song composed by the masterful hands of the chef, if you must. A truly creative treat for any culinary enthusiast.

For the warm mains, we loved the Smoked Short Ribs which rested on a bed of Oolong leaves. The boneless meat is extremely tender, pleasantly salty and sweet – quite possibly the most succulent I’ve ever had. We couldn’t possibly dine at a Japanese restaurant and not tuck into some Teppanyaki, so next we enjoyed the Akagome Prawn Teppanyaki with natural unpolished red rice.

The pièce de resistance had to be the Chocolate lava cake which caught our eye as it left our kitchen due to its exquisite plating. It’s filled with lovely tart matcha, topped with a toffee crisp and homemade vanilla ice cream and has an added side caramelised banana. It’s the ultimate indulgence.

Needless to say, Maki is the very EPITOME of fine dining and anyone exploring Bahrain’s dining scene absolutely must give it a try.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

May 2021 19

bystander

Iftar at Samawar Restaurant

Ramada Manama City Centre, represented by the owner’s representative, Moueen Askar, held a Ramadan Iftar for media members and invited guests at Samawar Restaurant.

Cristina’s Birthday Party A birthday celebration was held for Cristina in Amwaj Islands in the presence of close friends and family.

20 May 2021

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tablehopping

DINING OUT! The onset of May brings the second half of Ramadan and then the joy and celebration of Eid! Here are some places where you can enjoy a wonderful meal fit for any occasion.

A STARRY VIEW DELICIOUS IFTAR This Ramadan, enjoy a sumptuous array of dishes from an authentic Iftar at the Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain, including dedicated food stations, while delighting in Middle Eastern sweet and savoury delicacies. Break your fast and indulge with your family and friends in a wide selection of flavoured Middle Eastern dishes, featuring hot and cold starters, authentic dishes, as well as refreshing traditional Ramadan juices and dessert. The Iftar, along with Ramadan beverages, will be held at Silk’s restaurant from sunset to 900pm at BD18 net per person.

Call 17 4600 17 or e-mail hotel.bahrain.fb@movenpick.com

Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay enables you to retreat to a beautifully transformed poolside venue overlooking Bahrain Bay and Manama’s glistening skyline for a lavish experience surrounded by traditional décor in a relaxing atmosphere.

Spend Ramadan evenings under the night sky, with live entertainment from Arabic musicians. Chef Hassan Ahmed and his culinary team will be serving a selection of popular iftar and ghabga delicacies and global specialities. For Iftar, the sharing-style set menus range from BD17.5, BD20, and BD22.5 per person, for a minimum of two persons. An à la carte menu is also on offer. Ghabga entails a minimum spend of BD15 per person with both à la carte menu or sharing set menus available. Guests can also book a Private Cabana at the Pool Deck for a minimum spend of BD150, for a maximum of six persons.

Call 17 115-000 or visit www.fourseasons.com/bahrain

CELEBRATION FOR THE SENSES Dusk beckons the start of time-honoured traditions at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain at the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan. The five-star luxury lifestyle destination invites families, corporate groups, and couples to experience the month-long celebration like never before at the resort’s al fresco venues by the beach.A family-style sharing menu will be set up with aromatic dishes encompassing flavours of traditional Arabian cuisine, along with modern international fare. New this year is a selection of speciality rice dishes from different parts of the world including Dum Biryani from India, Paella from Spain, Tahig from Iran, and Koshari from Egypt. Ramadan desserts and gourmet sweet delicacies served at the end of each meal will satisfy the most discerning palates. A traditional Arabic coffee station will be set up to welcome guests to the night’s festivities.

Shisha-service will be available nightly from sunset to 2am.Iftar at Thai and La Plage is priced at BD26 per person and Ghabga is BD29 per person.

The Ramadan spread at Nikmati costs BD25 per person, available for group bookings of up to 30 persons.

Call 17 586-499. www.bahrainthismonth.com

RAMADAN FLAVOURS Downtown Rotana invites you to gather with family, friends, and colleagues during the Holy month of Ramadan over a vibrant spread of extravagant iftar at Downtown Rotana for only BD15.

Indulge in a combination of live cooking stations along with delicious delicacies served at your table Including live grills and traditional Ramadan dishes, drinks, and desserts. Special discounts are available for group bookings of 10 or more guests.

You can enjoy a group Ghabga for only BD15 per person, with a minimum of 20 persons. The unique Ramadan decorations and ambience will add some more magic to your evenings, accompanied with all necessary health and safety procedures.

Call 33 605-070 / 16 000-111.

May 2021 21

bystander

Crowne Plaza Bahrain Media Iftar

The Crowne Plaza Bahrain team held a Media Iftar at the property to mark the occasion of Ramadan. Members of the press were welcomed to the souq-themed outdoor iftar where they enjoyed a wonderful spread of Middle Eastern cuisine.

‫ﻋﻴﺪ ﻓﻄﺮ ﻣﺒﺎرك‬ EID FITR MUBARAK

Innovative Japanese Cuisine

SHORT RIBS BAO

For reservations call: 17522733 @makirest

@makirestaurant

WWW.OLIVERMAKI.COM

22 May 2021

www.bahrainthismonth.com/gallery

tablehopping

A SPECTACULAR SPREAD Experience the month of Ramadan at InterContinental Regency Bahrain, where you can revel in personal and attentive service, along with their international know-how and local cultural wisdom. Selections restaurant will stage an indulgent Iftar daily from sunset to 8.30pm, indoors and outdoors. Break your fast with a lavish buffet at your table with live BBQ station alongside traditional delicacies and international cuisine. Iftar is priced at BD18 per person. Ghabga at Selections will be under the moon from 9pm-1am daily, for you to savour a combination of vibrant live BBQ stations along with extravagant delicacies served at your table including the chef’s traditional and international curation priced at BD16 per person, or BD21 for the unlimited Shisha Package. A harp player will provide pleasant entertainment through both dining events.

Call 17 227 777.

THE SPANISH FLAIR Salero Restaurant at The Westin City Centre Bahrain will be serving guests through the month of Ramadan from Monday to Saturday, between noon to 10pm. Diners can choose to select from the à la carte menu, or ask for the Salero Ramadan set menu available from sunset to 10pm for BD20 per person.

A special rate of BD17 per person is offered for group bookings of a minimum of 10 persons. The restaurant can seat a maximum of 30 persons and allows guests above 18 years of age as it is a smoking venue.

Call 17 171-000, WhatsApp 33 538-150 or visit www.salerobahrain.com.

ITALIAN TREAT Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain’s new outdoor dining, Bello Tapas, is staged every Wednesday night at the hotel’s poolside terrace. Chef Domenico draws upon his longstanding experience to serve Italian gastronomic tradition featuring creative dishes using only the finest produce. Roll with the al fresco Italian theme and start with an Aperitivo of Aperol Spritz, before taking a deep dive into a selection of Italian grape by the glass. The food menu is replete with Italian classics, all served as small plates, for people to share their passion for culinary and artistic delights. Bello Tapas is priced at BD12 per person for the food menu selection. Special Aperitivo are available upon request.

Call 17460-017. www.bahrainthismonth.com

THE BACKYARD RAMADAN Enjoy Ramadan at The Backyard at Crowne Plaza Bahrain from sunset to 1am with an iftar fit for friends and family. Enjoy a wide array of international and Bahraini Ramadan favourites, curated exclusively for you. In the spirit of sharing the outlet will be serving a five-course family feast of amazing culinary delights until May 13.

Call 17 531-122 / 39 920-163.

May 2021 23

tablehopping

d e e a S Eid

AFTERNOON BEAU-TEA

Dining at Four Seasons’ Bay View is the definitive experience, full of tradition, innovation and a delicious celebration of the flavours of the season. Opening for Eid on May 13 onwards, from 8am to midnight you can enjoy artful interiors which set the stage for elegant meetings and gatherings overlooking the stunning Manama skyline and Bahrain Bay. An à la carte menu featuring international dishes and an extensive offering of handcrafted mocktails are served throughout the day and evening. There is nothing more iconic than experiencing afternoon tea at Bay View Lounge where delicate finger sandwiches and fluffy scones meet a fanciful selection of pastries and the most premium coffee and tea selection in the world.

Call 17 115-000.

CELEBRATORY LUNCH

The Westin City Centre Bahrain is hosting an Eid Lunch featuring a wide variety of dishes from its Furn menu such as mezze, salads, grills, traditional dishes and Arab sweets. This will be in a ‘buffet at your table’ style and will be available during the three days of Eid Al Fitr at Furn Bistro and Bakery for BD18 net per person. Due to limited seating capacity of the restaurant, it is highly recommended to book in advance.

Call 17 171-000/33204175 or visit www.furnbahrain.com

BRUNCH IS BACK! Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain invites you to discover hearty and colourful dishes served to your table. Indulge in an infinite selection of the freshest seafood, sushi, pasta, fine grilled cuts and more. Remember to save some room, because the dedicated dessert and cheese platters will surely tempt diners into sweet indulgence. Also, get entertained throughout the brunch, with resident DJ and live band performing the latest and best musical hits.

The brunch is on every Friday from 12.30pm-4pm at the outdoor terrace and priced at BD38 net inclusive of unlimited premium beverages.

Call 17 460-017.

24 May 2021

www.bahrainthismonth.com

tablehopping

A SPECIAL BUFFET Celebrate Eid with an Alfresco Brunch at the InterContinental Regency Bahrain with a buffet on your table at Legendz Steakhouse. There is also live carving stations and dessert trolleys. This will take place across the three days of Eid from 12.30pm-4pm and is priced at BD22 per person for a soft beverage package or BD29 for the selected beverage package.

Call 17 227 777.

SUNSET BRUNCH Keizo at Al Areen Palace & Spa will host an Eid Night Brunch set in its lush gardens with Majlis seating. Enjoy a wide array of international cuisines while you marvel at spectacular sunsets.

It is BD23 for a soft beverage package and BD30 for a selected beverage package.

Call 36 057-494.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

ROMANTIC SOIREE Enjoy a sumptuous steak and seafood soirée at the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain’s new Plums Alfresco at its famous beachfront venue Nikmati, featuring a special Chef’s menu perfect for a romantic date night or family dinner. The special set menu includes the finest cuts of premium beef and fresh seafood, alongside a choice of appetising starters and decadent desserts. The opening will be on the first day of Eid, and from thenceforth Tuesday to Saturdays from 7pm-11pm.

Call 17 586-499 or email rc.bahrz.restaurant.reservations@ ritzcarlton.com May 2021 25

motoring

THE PERFECT GT SPORTS CAR? Dick Potter takes the Ferrari Roma for a spin!

In my years as a motor correspondent with BTM I have had the privilege and pleasure of test driving many cars. The Ferrari stable has been the provider of most of these cars, yet every time I get behind the wheel of one, the sense of thrill and anticipation is as if it’s the first time I’ve ever sat in a Ferrari. The latest drive of the Roma was no different.

The Ferrari Roma - the Maranello lot refer to it as “La Nuova Dolce Vita” or, the new sweet life.

It is sweet indeed. Similar to the Portofino in terms of an easy-to-drive everyday motor - alas not in convertible mode as yet. It is a Grand Tourer (GT) with 12 cubic feet of trunk spacethere’s even a flap for skis access, or in my case the golf clubs. At the rear of the front seats there are two small seating areas for kids - if you’d permit them in a Ferrari *shudder* - or two, quite small, friends! Kids or small friends aside, you could avail of two Ferrari custom designed holdalls for that perfect road trip?

Head of Design, Flavio Manzoni, describes the Roma quite succinctly when he referred to it as “Formula 1 in evening attire”. A perfect description. It is indeed, sleek, elegant and refined-looking with 612 prancing ponies under the front hood.

The Roma’s countenance is quite in contrast to that of the 458, 488 or 812. The latter models scream their potential with their bulging muscle designs - and there’s nothing 26 May 2021

wrong with that at all. Not so the Roma, it represents understated elegance. Think of it as a less, in-your-face, Ferrari! Which is not to say it doesn’t catch those admiring glances or get deference from upcoming cars - they still pull aside to let the Roma pass; it is a Ferrari after all.

designed for you - in line with your pocket money of course.

Safe Ramadan driving all. dickpotter@redhousemarketing.com

The force of the Roma surges from a turbocharged 612 horsepower V8 that claims 0-100kms in 3.4 seconds. Its top speed of 318kph… let’s just say, I couldn’t quite ascertain this on the journey to Zallaq and back, you do understand! Filters meet the latest emissions criteria without affecting that omnipresent Ferrari roar. The Roma is also the first Ferrari GT to have all five drive modeswet, comfort, sport, race and the esc-all off equals incredible and a look around under the hood reveals the truly awesome artistic engineering presence there.

The comprehensive driver infotainment system is equally impressive. Being the technodinosaur that I am, it took a while to figure it out, but it’s all there, ergonomically designed so as to deem it unnecessary to remove hands from the steering wheel. The passenger dashboard area also sports a separate screen.

Reference to the cockpit interior of a Ferrari is almost superfluous as the highest standards of craftmanship and handstitched materials - the Roma sported leather and velvet - are instantly evident. I must confess to not having seen velvet used in a Ferrari cockpit before – however, it is typical that interiors are custom www.bahrainthismonth.com

motoring

SABINE SCHMITZ. 1969-2021.

Dick Potter remembers the phenomenal motor racing driver, Sabine Schmitz.

I

t was with great sadness that I learned that the “Queen of the Nürburgring” had passed away last month. Sabine Schmitz, the aforementioned queen, was first and foremost a phenomenal, professional motor racing driver. She was in her element, scorching tyres and denting-mostly male - egos around motor racing’s most formidable and dangerous track, the Nürburgring. Growing up near the circuit, coupled with jaunts in the family car on the north loop of the circuit- the Nordschleife- was a possible influence on the origins of car racing in the three Schmitz sisters. However, only Sabine continued and went on to achieve several notable victories. Progressing up through lower-level racing categories, she became the only female race car driver to win the annual Nürburgring 24-hour race, a feat she accomplished twice: in 1996 and 1997.

The inimitable style in which she drove either of the BMW M5 cars - used to taxi people around the race track - coupled with her charismatic and humorous manner, brought Sabine mass public recognition and acclaim.

Her familiarity with the circuit was undoubtedly accredited to her completing an astonishing 20,000 laps of it, both solo and in her famed tourist taxis. She also ran her own team - Frikadelli Racing - with her husband, Klaus Abbelen.

In December 2004, Schmitz gained recognition in the United Kingdom after appearing on Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson. This was not their first meeting. Sabine had previously coached www.bahrainthismonth.com

Clarkson around the Nürburgring in a Jaguar S-Type diesel. Clarkson had a set lap time of 9 minutes 59 seconds. When Sabine subsequently did the circuit with a set lap time of 9 minutes 12 seconds, she beat Clarkson by 47 seconds. Apparently, whilst attempting to film Schmitz as she drove the S-Type, the film crew were unable to keep up, and were reduced to roping in the Jaguar test driver to drive the Jaguar S-Type R chase car!

Bravo Sabine!

On a subsequent Top Gear episode, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the humble Ford Transit van, Top Gear challenged Sabine to drive a Ford Transit diesel van around the circuit in an attempt to beat Clarkson’s time set in the Jaguar. Firstly, I couldn’t have selected a more perfect vehicle for the challenge. Secondly, Sabine just missed Clarkson’s time by 9 seconds!

Having test driven many Ferrari’s - I can confirm that “very fast” is the only one way to drive one of these lovely creations - and I should dearly like to have been given any driving tip from Sabine!

Car racing wasn’t the only string to her bow however. Trained in the hotel and catering business, she owned a bar-restaurant in Nürburg named the Fuchsröhre (Foxhole) after one of her favourite sections of the track. As if that wasn’t enough, in 2004 she qualified as a helicopter pilot. A remarkably clever and talented lady indeed. Perhaps a section of the famed Nürburgring circuit might be named in her honour?

Let me know how you think she might be best remembered, at: dickpotter@redhousemarketing.com

Sabine became a regular guest star and firm favourite with the viewers on Top Gear. She continued to feature following Clarkson’s departure and from 2016 became one of the show’s regular team. Clarkson - possibly better known for his somewhat acerbic views of individuals - described Sabine as “such a sunny person”.

Whilst indeed many of the presenters of Top Gear, past and present, paid tributes to Sabine, I must confess to a particular pang of envy reading Paddy McGuinness’ tribute. A current presenter, McGuinness thanked her for giving him tips on how to “drive a Ferrari very fast”.

May 2021 27

TWICE THE TRIUMPH

The new Kia Sorento has received two globally renowned awards: the Red Dot Award and the iF Award for its product design. Since the Kia Soul was the first vehicle from a Korean brand to receive the Red Dot in 2009, a total of 26 Kia models have been awarded the coveted ‘red dot’. And in the iF Award, which the brand received for the first time in 2010, the number of award-winning Kia vehicles has risen to a total of 21 with the new Sorento. Shortly after its premiere last year, the new Sorento was honored for its outstanding design in the ‘All-Wheel Drive Car of the Year 2020’ poll by Auto Bild Allrad. A short time later, it received the most important German automotive award, the ‘Golden Steering Wheel 2020’ in the ‘Large SUVs’ class. In March this year, it was voted ‘Women’s World Car of the Year 2021’ in the ‘Large SUV’ category.

A POSITIVE TREND

Buyer confidence is returning to the premium luxury car market with Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE reporting its best first quarter result in five years. From January to March, 2,064 new cars were delivered to Porsche customers in the GCC, the Levant, Africa and India.Despite continuously challenging COVID-related measures, India performed exceptionally well, chalking up its best Q1 result in seven years, thus making Porsche one of the fastest growing luxury car brands in the country in 2021. Porsche Middle East and Africa’s successful implementation of its new retail strategy helped steer importer profitability through clearly defined qualitative and quantitative targets in the first quarter of 2021 and beyond. Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were the top three markets for the Middle East, with Abu Dhabi returning the strongest growth of 73 per cent over Q1 last year. Across Africa, South Africa, Egypt and Morocco were the best performers. Morocco more than doubled its new car sales between January and March when compared to the same period in 2020.

THE CUTTING-EDGE CONCEPT CAR

MG Motor has shared more details about its cutting-edge Cyberster concept car, which premiered at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show this April. Developed by the team at the MG Advanced Design Centre in London, the Cyberster is a two-door, two-seater sports car recalling the brand’s heritage and featuring styling cues from the classic MGB Roadster.The Cyberster introduces supercar-level performance from a fully-electric MG. Its intelligent all-electric architecture delivers an Electric Vehicle range of 800km (500 miles) and a 0-100km/h time (0-62mph) in less than three seconds. It will also feature 5G interconnectivity. Additionally, a collaboration between MG and Bilibili e-sports has resulted in the co-creation of the industry’s first super e-sports cockpit for the Cyberster.The Cyberster features classic round MG headlights, coupled with a slim grille design, along with interactive ‘Magic Eye’ headlights that open when switched on. Its powerful sports car profile has a distinct two-stage shoulder line, with a flattened ‘kamm tail’ rear.

Ahead of the show, MG confirmed its intention to manufacture the Cyberster as a production car.

28 May 2021

www.bahrainthismonth.com

PRESENTING YOUR CHAMPIONS!

The roster of champions in the 2021 Bahrain Drag Racing Championship was completed, following the staging of the season’s fifth and final round at Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) in Sakhir.

The title winners not only took home their respective first place trophies, but came away with a highly coveted Wally, which is a prestigious, globally renowned award presented only to champions of National Hot Rod Association (NHRA)-sanctioned events around the world.

Securing their crowns were Ali Abdulla in the Index 10.5 class, Hamdan Al Kaabi in the Index 9.0, Jehad Al Jamal in the Super Street Bikes category, Ali Bahram in the Index 8.5 Bikes and Fadi Abu Jamus in the Street Fight Bikes class.

They joined the six other champions who had already secured their respective 2021 titles heading into the campaign closer. They included Bahrain1 Racing’s Khalid Al Balooshi in the Pro Mod class, Bapco Motorsport’s Hani Ali in the Index 8.5 category, Obaid Al Balooshi in the Competition 4.5 class, Hussain Mohammed in the Super Street V8, Mahmood Mohammed in the Outlaw 4 and Nawaf Almannai in the Outlaw 6 category.

The 2021 Bahrain Drag Racing Championship was organised and run

by BIC, in cooperation with the Bahrain Motor Federation, the Bahrain Drag Racing Club and the Bahrain Motorcycle Club.

THE SPARK OF ELECTRIFICATION

The spark of electrification hits the “Maserati of SUVs”. The incandescent flash that electrified the Ghibli Hybrid last year continues its path and prepares to ignite all future Maserati models. Levante Hybrid marks a bold step into the future of Maserati - combining the two-litre 4-cylinder thermal engine with a 48-volt Hybrid system that allows the driver to recover energy during deceleration and braking. This latest evolution in the SUV is lighter than its corresponding petrol version: faster, greener and even more iconic. Incredible performance with minimal impact on the environment. With a maximum speed of 240 km/h, and 0 to 100 km/h in just 6 seconds, the Maserati Levante Hybrid reaches 330 hp of maximum power and 450 Nm of torque at 2,250 rpm.New icons in the Brand’s voyage towards electrification, bold blue cobalt illuminates details throughout the Levante Hybrid: from the three signature side air intakes, to the brake callipers; from the logo on the rear pillar, to the embroidered stitch work on the interiors.

GREATER INDIVIDUALISATION

A strictly limited special model of the Mercedes-AMG, CLS 53 4MATIC+ forms the sporty-exclusive spearhead. Only 300 units of the new Limited Edition are planned. Thanks to a comprehensive refresh last summer with updates to the driving assistance systems, the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) multimedia system and ENERGIZING Comfort, the CLS was already up-to-date technologically.

Now the CLS shows off an even sportier look. The front end in particular, with new radiator grilles and bumpers, expresses the dynamism of the four-door coupé even more strongly. At the same time, the interior has been upgraded with additional leather and trim combinations as well as a new generation of steering wheelThe CLS 53 4MATIC+ combines a powerful 320 kW (435 hp) output with sporty style and high efficiency. The integrated starter-generator briefly delivers an additional 16 kW of power and 250 Nm of torque and supplies the 48-volt on-board network. More information from Mercedes-Benz is available at www.mercedes-benz.com and from Mercedes-AMG at www.mercedes-amg.com available. www.bahrainthismonth.com

May 2021 29

business bites

A LUCRATIVE COLLABORATION The national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Gulf Air, and Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the objective of promoting Bahrain as a tourist destination in France and Germany. The MoU will allow both parties to collaborate and combine efforts to attract more tourists to choose Bahrain as their holiday destination or spend a number of nights in transit before reaching their final destination.

The MoU will pave the way to create stronger awareness of Bahrain as a tourist destination in France and Germany by appointing sales and marketing executives based in Paris and Frankfurt. The collaboration will see both Gulf Air and BTEA promote Bahrain as a boutique destination and work closely on various initiatives to establish comprehensive offering. Areas of pricing, distribution, digital marketing, media engagement and press trips will be the main focus of the appointed teams in both European countries.

The MoU was signed between Gulf Air and BTEA’s executive management teams represented by Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Captain Waleed AlAlawi, and BTEA’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Nasser Ali Qaedi.

NEXT-GENERATION NETWORKS Digital Ecosystem Enabler, Tata Communications, and its exclusive partner in the Kingdom, Bahrain Internet Exchange (BIX), have partnered to offer high speed internet connectivity with very low latency for a superior quality and seamless viewing, gaming and download experience for customers in Bahrain.

“Keeping pace with Bahrain’s growing bandwidth requirements, the country needs new cable systems that are of high speed, well-laid and help bring global content closer to the country”, said Shaima Al Hamed, Executive Director, Bahrain Internet Exchange (BIX).

“BIX is excited to combine its regional expertise with Tata Communications global presence to offer end customers a technically superior submarine cable system that opens access to both the East and West parts of the world.”

Equipped with OTU-4 (Optical Transport Unit), a next-generation optical technology, TGN-Gulf cable system will enable customers with a robust, consistent, and manageable data transport infrastructure with the capability to scale up beyond 100 Gbps. With this, Tata Communications and BIX bring the power of high-speed connectivity and digital transformation to the Middle East region.

BUILDING THE BEST Real Estate Developer in the Kingdom of Bahrain, GFH Properties, has received the ‘Best Development in MENA’ award for ‘The Harbour Row’ project at the Architecture Leaders Awards 2021. Organised by BNC Publishing and Design Middle East, the inaugural Architecture Leaders Awards 2021 aims to celebrate creativity and innovation within the field of architecture, while recognising the region’s leading architects, projects, and firms who are on the vanguard.

residential buildings in the area. The project comprises of four residential buildings consisting of 333 apartments, with additional two buildings set to house a five-star hotel and 162 hotel apartments.

Acting Chief Executive Officer, Talal AlMahroos, said: “We are very grateful for the recognition of our accomplishments during the past year despite the pandemic. Winning this award would not have been possible without the market’s continued confidence in GFH Properties and the power of our dedicated team.”

‘The Harbour Row’ is strategically nestled in the Bahrain Financial Harbour District and is considered one of the first 30 May 2021

www.bahrainthismonth.com

business bites

DISCUSSING BILATERAL COOPERATION The Director of Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance received the Korean Ambassador to Bahrain, HE Hae-Kwan Chung to discuss mutual interest and explore areas of collaboration between the BIBF and the Korean Embassy in the education and training fields.

The South Korean ambassador expressed his country’s keenness on bolstering bilateral cooperation, especially in the education and training fields to serve common interests.

“The Republic of Korea is home to many of the world’s most prestigious higher education institutions, and the Korean ambassador visit paved the way for us to offer more Korean programmes at the BIBF, as we are committed to providing the best qualifications the market has to offer, through our in-house courses and international affiliations,” said the BIBF Director.

An increased number of delegations are visiting the BIBF to discuss aspects of cooperation, whereby training arrangements are done for human capital development regionally and on a global scale.

A GLOBAL ALLIANCE The Bahrain Technology Companies Society (BTECH) is now a member of the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) making it the sole representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain in the alliance given its contribution to the development of the ICT industry in Bahrain.

Founded in 1978, WITSA is a leading consortium of the ICT industry association members from over 80 countries and economies around the world, with its members representing over 90 percent of the world ICT market.

BTECH’s membership provides the Kingdom with a conducive platform for a more prominent contribution in leading the transformation and development of the ICT industry at the international level, especially as this industry has become the main engine for the global economy. Members of this alliance are pioneers in the ICT market, and they work together to achieve a common vision on significant issues related to this industry, in addition to setting priorities and unifying visions in a world that is shifting towards digitalisation in every aspect.

WORKING TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY NBB and BisB chairmen and board members, executives and employees engaged in a virtual ESG and Sustainability awareness session, led by Dr. Bernard Duffy an expert in Global Wealth Management, Fund Management and the Institutional Pension sectors.

During the session, Dr. Duffy shared knowledge about the growing importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations within the financial services sector, and how ESG is impacting the decisionmaking process of potential investors, stakeholders and the communities in which banks operate.

The session, attended by 370 individuals from across the NBB Group, focused on how an organisation can be both socially responsible and engage in impactful investing. Dr. Duffy outlined and provided examples of the different types of ESG reporting banks should be considering and how institutional investors and banks are increasingly considering sustainability issues when making investments and undertaking loans.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

May 2021 31

commerce

E-Waste How we consume and manage it.

Business expert, Pria Masson Tanwar, speaks of a pressing issue.

As part of a pandemic de-cluttering exercise at home, I decided to collect all old electronic items and put them in a single place to figure out what to do with them. This included old Nokia mobile phones, blackberries, 10-yearold laptops etc. But then, I had an even more tedious task – figuring out what to do with this stuff? Which got me thinking about e-waste, and I went slipping and sliding down the rabbit hole to explore.

E-waste is basically any electrical or electronic equipment (EEE) that we consume. E-waste has become an increasing problem since the components of these items are environmentally and physically hazardous. With a rise in disposable incomes, urbanisation, mobility and subsequent consumerism, the generation of e-waste has been significant. On average, the total weight (excluding photovoltaic panels) of global EEE consumption increases annually by 2.5 million metric tons (Mt). In 2019, the world generated 53.6 Mt of e-waste, an average of 7.3 kg per capita and is projected to grow to 74.7 Mt by 20301.

Less than 18% of this generated e-waste is properly re-cycled. The rest of it is discarded

in a landfill and subsequently incarcerated – creating its own environmental hazards. The need for a solution is urgent and governments alone cannot find the solution. And they don’t need to - because e-waste management is an interesting business by itself with regional private players finding innovative ways to address the issues. From companies who collect EEE, sift through it and then export it to global recyclers, to companies that are recyclers - the value chain is slowly filling up in the GCC region.

As per recent estimates, Bahrain’s per capita e-waste generation is estimated at 12.9 kg per person per year, with a total country-wide annual generation of about 15,500 tonnes. To deal with this, there were talks of setting up a full scale e-waste recycling facility in Bahrain to capture this opportunity, however, this is yet to be finalised.

Currently the market for any waste management in Bahrain is fragmented with companies like the Ebin Shop or the Bahrain Environment Service society both of which handle obsolete IT equipment. In the more organised space, Crown Industries Bahrain recycles plastics, ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal, obsolete machinery, electrical

and telecommunications cable and equipment and exports them. There is also the Recycle IT project that aims to collect EEE and distribute useable equipment to the needy. Of that which can’t be used, parts are sold to repair agents and the rest to recyclers. The recognition of the need and urgency are both evident and it seems like there are steps being taken by private players to utilise this opportunity.

However, the question to be asked is, what makes EEE such a significant opportunity.

As always, its simple economics of limited resources being required for unlimited needs.

So, the materials that it takes to produce these gadgets are finite, our needs seem to grow exponentially. On the one hand, to stay competitive, prices cannot rise too much.

Further, to save the earth the basic process has to be safer. In terms of business economics, collecting EEE is like a service to the users – however, for the recycling company, it’s an input – procured at a low cost. Transport and recycling equipment is expensive so, there needs to be enough people who provide the input (volume) to make it cost effective. There is another layer to recycling - to actually save the earth, the process has to have a low carbon footprint itself. It’s all quite complex and we all have to do our small bit.

Pria is a business consultant and advisor.

You can follow Pria at her Instagram handle businessclues33 or read more of her articles at www.business-clues.com

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websites Exploring the wonderful world of the internet?

Check out these sites that we found quite interesting!

www.laughingsquid.com

Laughing Squid is one of the most creative blogs to check out. You can find all sorts of highly visual posts about art, culture and technology on this site, most of which are photos and videos. It’s updated with several new posts a day featuring the newest, freshest content. Posts are kept pretty short too, making it perfect for browsing casually.

www.stars.chromeexperiments.com

If you’ve ever wanted to zoom in around our galaxy from a computer browser, it is now possible. Stars lets you experience our galaxy in a new way. It contains the entire Milky Way on a single page, so you can zoom in around and find things you have never seen before.

www.apartmenttherapy.com

If you’re even a little bit of a fan of home decor or DIY projects, this is a website you might find yourself spending time on. There’s a ton of awesome visual and written content on here. It has a whole lot of helpful articles giving tips on everything from how to redo your stairs to ideas for using that awkward space above your fridge.

Your local search engine for restaurants and hotels in Bahrain

www.worldhistory.org

If you love history, this is your one-stop shop to learn everything about the past. From ancient kingdoms to epic wars, you can find everything here. It is a great site for history buffs and casual observers alike.

Restaurants

Hotels

40m

Entertainment

65m

Cafés

20m

Serviced Apartments 35m

www.thebhrg.com

Featuring: Apps / Updates & Blogs / Promos & Deals / Events / Menus / Videos / Photos / Answer Reviews & Chats / Listings / Digital Campaign

The Bahrain Hotel & Restaurant Guide 2019 @bahrainhotelandrestaurantguide

www.bahrainthismonth.com

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@thebhrg

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tv releases

Staying in and socially-distanced?

Our top movies and series should help you pass some of that time.

Frank of Ireland

A 32-year-old misanthropic musician named Frank (Brian Gleeson) lives in Dublin with his mother in this hilarious comedy series.

Frank is a bit of a mess and between his loose grasp on reality, being hung up on his ex, having to live with his family and be treated like a kid again, and his overall total failure to command any respect whatsoever, he’s definitely got his work cut out for him.

Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse

Them

The film adaption of the 1993 novel tells the origin story of John Kelly (Michael B. Jordan) — AKA John Clark – a U.S. Navy SEAL, who uncovers an international conspiracy while seeking justice for the murder of his pregnant wife by Russian soldiers. When Kelly joins forces with fellow SEAL Karen Greer (Jodie Turner-Smith) and shadowy CIA agent Robert Ritter (Jamie Bell), the mission unwittingly exposes a covert plot that threatens to engulf the U.S. and Russia in an all-out war..

Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!

A single dad and cosmetics brand owner (Jamie Foxx) figures out fatherhood on the fly when his strong-minded teen daughter moves in with him. Created by Foxx and his real-life daughter, Corinne Foxx (who is behind the camera as one of the show’s executive producers), the two based the series off their own relationship and dynamic.

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In this horror anthology series executive produced by Lena Waithe and Little Marvin, it’s the 1950s and a black family moves from North Carolina to an all-white Los Angeles neighbourhood, where malevolent forces, next door and otherworldly, threaten to taunt, ravage and destroy them. THEM stars Deborah Ayorinde, Ashley Thomas, Shahadi Wright Joseph and Melody Hurd.

Things Heard & Seen

After moving to a small town with her husband (James Norton), a young artist (Amanda Seyfried) begins to suspect that their home harbours a dark secret. This highly-anticipated horror thriller stars Seyfried, Norton and Natalia Dyer.

Thunder Force

In a world terrorised by super-villains, one woman has developed a process to give superpowers to regular people. But when scientist Emily Stanton (Octavia Spencer) accidentally give her estranged best-friend Lydia (Melissa McCarthy) incredible abilities, the two women are suddenly forced to become their world’s first-ever superhero team. Now, it is up to Thunder Force to battle the super-powered Miscreants and save Chicago from the clutches of The King (Bobby Cannavale). www.bahrainthismonth.com

tv releases

Big Shot After getting ousted from his job in the NCAA for throwing a chair at a referee, a hothead men’s basketball coach Marvyn Korn (John Stamos) must take a job at Westbrook School for Girls in an effort to redeem what’s left of his career and reputation. Coach Korn faces hostility from his new community and experiences friction with his new team as he struggles to accept his new role and what it requires of him.

Secrets of the Whales This beautiful Sigourney Weaver-narrated National Geographic docuseries will bring you deep into the epicentre of whale culture to experience the extraordinary communication skills and intricate social structures of five different whale species. This epic journey was filmed over three years in 24 locations, and ultimately seeks to teach us that whales are far more complex and like us than we ever imagined.

The Circle

Status and strategy collide in this social experiment and competition show where online players flirt, befriend and catfish their way toward $100,000.

Within the show, contestants are isolated within their own apartments, and can only communicate to the other contestants via ‘The Circle’, ostensibly a computer program which transcribes their messages into text as if in a social media app. Contestants are thus able to present completely different identities to the others to hopefully win them over. www.bahrainthismonth.com

Star Wars: Ewoks After dropping The Muppet Show, Disney+ is adding another beloved, quirky classic onto its service. This time, it’s the Technicolor animated show Star Wars: Ewoks. The playful ‘80s comedy has rarely been available to stream until now. Follow a Star Wars favourite Wicket Warwick and his friends around the forest moon of Endor, and be prepared to get that Ewoks theme song (E-e-e-e-e-ewoks!) stuck in your head.

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gadgets

GADGETS

BTM brings you the latest gadgets to push your technological buttons.

LEECO SMART BIKES

ZEROUND SMARTWATCH

This watch is jam-packed with functionality and a cool, elegant design to boot. Seamlessly working with all the different aspects of your life, the ZeRound combines call functionality, SMS, email and social media notifications, music streaming, full activity tracker and sleep tracker, all within a colour circular touchscreen design.

Available at: http://www.red5.co.uk

Integrating a 4-inch Android touchscreen into a bicycle for navigation, music playback and a walkie-talkie might not seem the safest idea, but the growing thirst for technology while on the move has led LeEco to develop the first smart bike.

Available at: www.leeco.com

COOLADO

Go from zero to comfortable in seconds with the Coolado Self-Inflating LoungeBag. This lightweight lounger is perfect for chilling out at the beach or relaxing at festivals.

Unlike other inflatables, it has a built-in pump powered by a USB rechargeable battery. In addition, the LoungeBag inflates/deflates itself in under two minutes. Made from durable nylon-TPU, the waterproof outer skin is happy on all surfaces.

Available at: www.thegadgetflow.com

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LASER KEYBOARD

This keyboard is as ultra-portable as it is pioneering. Simply connect your smartphone, tablet or computer via Bluetooth or USB connection, switch on and place on a dark, flat surface. This innovative and compact design features a fully integrated English QWERTY keyboard layout with over 400 characters. The keyboard omits a glowing red laser and makes small sounds as you type, making the transition from buttons to surface easy.

Available at: http://www.amazon.co.uk www.bahrainthismonth.com

gadgets

SLEEP NUMBER 360 SMART BED

Not everyone has pets to lie on their feet and keep them toasty. So Sleep Number made a bed that knows when you’ve got cold feet and turns heat on at the bottom of the bed. In theory, the mattress changes its Sleep Number settings to compensate for changes in position and while it can’t stop someone snoring, if it senses you are, it raises your head to reduce your volume.

Available at: https://www.sleepnumber.com/360

HP SPROUT G2 3D - SCANNING PC

The Sprout G2, with its integrated 3D and 2D scanners, is perfect for product designers, CGI creators and other folks who can benefit from incorporating 3D models into their workflow.

It’s also got a stylus-enabled touch mat that acts as a second screen.

Available at: https://www.hp.com

POWERVISION POWERRAY UNDERWATER DRONE

This underwater drone can submerge up to 98 feet (30 metres) and records 4K video streamed to your phone, which you use to navigate. With its add-on Fishfinder sonar it can detect fish up to 131 feet (40 metres) away and lures them with a blue light. It also features VR goggles that allow you to look around by tilting your head.

Available at: http://powervision.me/en/

HEXAGON LEVITATE 2.0

The Hexagon Levitate 2.0 speaker levitates above its base as if by magic whilst it blasts out your tunes. It has touch sensitive buttons and a black matte finish, while also being magnetic if you want to stick it to a metallic surface. The speaker is charged wirelessly as long as it’s floating above the base.

Available at: https://www.red5.co.uk

8BITDO DPAD USB HUB

It’s not hard to stay powered up and connected with this USB hub that gets back to that most basic of gaming controls: the directional pad. Featuring three USB 2.0 inputs and a transfer rate of 480Mbps, the directional arrows even light up when a device is connected so you can see that the power is flowing.

Available at: www.thinkgeek.com www.bahrainthismonth.com

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APPS REVIEW TIME MANAGEMENT, FITNESS AND SOME QUALITY SLEEP MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN OUR EVERYDAY LIFE! HERE ARE SOME APPS THAT CAN HELP YOU WITH JUST THAT.

Shleep

Rewind - Timetracking Perfect for data junkies, this app keeps track of where you’ve been and for how long. Have you ever wondered how much time you spend at work or at home? How about at your favourite coffee shop or restaurant, or the gym? With Rewind, you can easily know this information without even thinking about it as it tracks everything in neatly-presented graphs and charts.

There are all sorts of apps and gadgets for monitoring your sleep, but few of them give much feedback on how to actually sleep better. That’s what Shleep is for. When you first start the app, it asks a short series of questions to gauge the general quality and quantity of sleep you’re getting. It will then coach you towards better sleep through short daily videos (or just audio if you prefer), which highlight things that can help and then give you specific things you can try doing – or not doing as the case may be.

RockMyRun If you enjoy running with music, especially new music picked to match your activity, RockMyRun is the app for you. This fitness app plays music and changes the tempo based on your footfalls or heart rate, while also keeping track of your runs. It also lets you set the tempo of a playlist, if you’d rather try to make your feet keep up with the music, and the app comes with a variety of genres.

ifttt Ifttt stands for ‘if this, then that’, which allows you to make thousands of commands, also known as ‘recipes’, such as sending you an SMS if it’s about to rain or to automatically post a link to your blog on your Facebook page at any given time. No programming skills are required. While you can create your own commands from scratch using what boils down to a ‘choose from the listed options’ interface, ifttt also lets you browse recipes that other users have created and made public.

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music

Demi Lovato

Dancing With the Devil The Art of Starting Over As its title suggests, this album is a bit of a rebirth, where Demi Lovato is looking forward to a new phase in her career – not that Lovato has taken her trauma off the table entirely. The first stretch tackles her 2018 relapse and subsequent hospitalisation, while much of the rest of the record is so bluntly confessional it can play like a journal. Often, this blend of candid soul-baring and hyper-stylised pop can cause a bit of cognitive dissonance; the songs seem built to support emotions a bit frothier than what the lyrics detail.

Lovato’s frankness is disarming, yet the album works best when it veers toward lighter territory, letting the slick R&B rhythms and sugared hooks carry her emoting.

Cheap Trick

Taylor Swift

FEARLESS- (Taylor’s Version) Verdict:

A pitch-perfect remake.

What’s the story?

Fearless (Taylor’s Version) is the first re-recorded studio album

by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It is the first of six albums Swift is planning to re-record and release in order to own master recordings of her older catalogue. Recorded with newer vocals and production, the album consists of all of the 19 tracks from the platinum edition of the 2008 original.

In Another World The Cheap Trick formula hasn’t really changed; the band bashes out riff-heavy rockers dipped in candied Beatlesque harmonies, but they also take the time to indulge in a little bit of psychedelia. Rick Nielsen’s melodies are sharp, and Robin Zander sounds vigorous – he might not be mistaken for a young man in his twenties, but he hardly sounds as if he’s pushing 70.

The muscle and commitment of Nielsen and Zander help make In Another World sound like a classic Cheap Trick album. However, it’s a shame that the group’s dogged adherence to their old blueprint doesn’t allow room for adventure, mistake or fashion. Maybe that means the album doesn’t quite seem fresh, but it does hit its marks in a reliable, satisfying manner.

Worth a listen?

The blend of youth and experience is appealing, and it can also be heard in the newer renditions of the Fearless material.

Swift largely re-creates the arrangements and feel of the original 2008 album, yet her voice and phrasing has aged, giving the music a hint of bittersweet gravity. That said, it’s only a hint; Fearless (Taylor’s Version) serves the purpose of offering new versions that could be substituted for the originals for licensing purposes. It’s to Swift’s credit that the album is an absorbing (if long) listen anyway.

www.bahrainthismonth.com

Winds

Look at the Sky Winds’ debut album is a perfect combination of psychedelic textures, pop hooks, Baroque arrangements and memorable songs. The band’s members bring the experience and vision to craft an album that stands out from the psychedelic hordes crowding the airwaves in the early 2020s. The record has a tight, live feel, and the bass and drums snap with understated power while a cavalcade of reverb-heavy guitars of both the six- and 12-string varieties strum and slash.

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games

GAMES

ODDWORLD: SOULSTORM VERDICT:

Odd by name, odd by nature

RATING:

WHAT IS IT?

Oddworld: Soulstorm is a platform game published by Oddworld Inhabitants. It is the sequel to 2014’s Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty! and a re-imagining of 1998’s Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus. Similar to its predecessor, the game is a 2.5D side-scrolling platform game.

Protagonist Abe returns in the game and his goal is to save his fellow mudokons from slave labour.

GAMEPLAY

The remake remains just as diabolically difficult as games of the PS1 era: each level finds a new way to imperil the lives of you and your followers in a devious test of your cleverness, creativity and patience. One area might require you to sneak past armed guards who you’d have no hope of challenging in open combat, while another asks you to keep waves of enemies busy long enough for hundreds of your followers to run away.

GRAPHICS

Unfortunately, Soulstorm has a ton of glitches and bugs. These range from visual oddities to potentially game-breaking issues like followers disappearing from the level altogether. In the vast majority of cases, backing out to the main menu and reloading the level or closing and relaunching Soulstorm fixed the issue, but bugs are so common it’s likely to increase your frustration in a game that revels in pushing you to the limit on purpose as it is.

OUTRIDERS

Outriders is a 1-3 player co-op RPG shooter set in an original, dark, sci-fi universe. As mankind bleeds out in the trenches of Enoch, you’ll create your own Outrider and embark on a journey across the hostile planet.

With rich storytelling spanning a diverse world, you’ll leave behind the slums and shanty towns of the First City and traverse forests, mountains and desert in the pursuit of a mysterious signal. The game combines intense gunplay with violent powers and an arsenal of increasingly twisted weaponry and gear-sets.

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NEW POKÉMON SNAP

In New Pokémon Snap, a sequel to the 1999 classic Pokémon Snap, the player is a Pokémon photographer who visits various islands in the Lental region to help the research studies of Professor Mirror and his assistants Rita and Phil. Taking photographs helps the player build a compendium called a Photodex; the game features more than 200 different Pokémon for the player to photograph. In addition to adding photos to the Photodex, the player also helps investigate the Illumina phenomenon, where Pokémon and plants appear to have a special glow.

NIER REPLICANT VER.1.22474487139...

NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... is an updated version of NieR Replicant, previously only released in Japan. Discover the one-of-a-kind prequel to the critically-acclaimed masterpiece NieR:Automata, now with a modern upgrade, revived visuals, a fascinating storyline and more. The protagonist is a kind young man living in a remote village.

In order to save his sister Yonah, who fell terminally ill to the Black Scrawl, he sets out with Grimoire Weiss, a strange talking tome, to search for the “sealed verses.” www.bahrainthismonth.com

Bahrain Edition

May 2021 | Issue 217

BEAUTY

Our top beauty essentials this month!

Skincare that will have you glowing

BEAUTY | FASHION | HOME | WELLBEING | LOCAL ISSUES

FASHION

Spectacular Eid Fashion

PARENTING

When kids use inappropriate language

INTERVIEW Mariam Alammadi tells us about how Afkarech has impacted society We chat with the artist, Narmeen Albaker, about her recent exhibit with her daughter

LIFESTYLE A delicious recipe for mushroom soup www.womanthismonth.com

FASHION | styling

EID

EXTRAVAGANZA! Exquisitely elegant fashion choices to celebrate the joyous occasion of Eid.

Eid is easily the most festive occasion in the region, and for Muslims in other parts of the world. This month, we went through stunning collections from regional and international designers, but three in particular caught our eye.

We sought to stay true to the spirit of Ramadan as we bring in the joyous festival of Eid with a range of pieces that are each vibrant, luxurious and elegant in their own right.

The UAE’s homegrown womenswear label, Lili Blanc, embraced the month of Ramadan with the launch of a capsule collection.

Innovative design and a contemporary aesthetic came together to introduce the Kay kimono and Malika set. The iconic silhouettes promise versatility and timeless style through a collection that exudes strength, power and confidence. Each piece is lightweight and comfortable making them perfect for summer while being effortlessly elegant.

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FASHION | styling CH Carolina Herrera presented an exclusive Ramadan collection for the region which includes bags, accessories, and shoes. The collection is characterised by limited edition versions of the brands most iconic pieces, reinterpreted to embody the spirit of the region while remaining true to the character and elegance of the CH woman. Iconic bags such as Insignia Rings and Matryoshka Locked are reintroduced in exclusive textures and colours, offering subtle luxury with gold hints and accents, all handcrafted in the brand’s leather Atelier in Spain. Continuing the story, the collection also includes stunning jewelry pieces which incorporate pearls and gold as a tribute to the longstanding history and tradition of the GCC region.

ZALXNDRA – the premium fashion label born in Dubai with global roots – flipped the fashion script, focusing on the finer details, to create vibrant, versatile pieces hand-crafted to last a lifetime. The exquisitely embroidered pieces are handcrafted with passion and care from the finest linen making the pieces the perfect addition to any wardrobe. ZALXNDRA pays attention to beautiful silhouettes and are perfect for those who are artistic, free-spirited and aesthetically mindful. www.womanthismonth.com

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PEOPLE | interview

Her Ideas

We have an insightful chat with the founder of Afkarech, Mariam Alammadi, about the group and its tireless work to make a positive impact on the community.

M

ariam Alammadi is a licensed Bahraini Psychologist who has been working in the mental health sector for the last eleven years. As a highly-driven individual, she has worked tirelessly to be a key contributor to the sector and has received several accolades for her contributions along the way. However, one of her most notable achievements in recent has to be the founding of the female networking group Afkarech – which has grown to be a diverse group of community-driven women who encourage and uplift each other.

Could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

I am a licensed Bahraini Psychologist and have a key interest is breaking the stigma of mental health in Bahrain. In this regard, I have written for several local and international publications and made media appearances to spread this awareness in our community.

I am also the founder of the Child Foundation Center (CFC) - a psychological centre that provides specialised care in counselling and milestone development. Following its success and due to the demand, an adult section was added to practice. I am currently involved in a research project with the Ministry of Education, Al Jawhara Hospital and an esteemed team of colleagues investigating mindfulness practices in public schools, which is currently on hold due to COVID-19.

However, out of all the accolades during my career my favourite will always be ‘The founder of Afkarech Female Network & Think Tank’.

How would you describe Afkarech?

Afkarech, which was founded in December 2017, is a melting pot for a diverse group of wonderful, intelligent and caring women who have come together in a supportive environment. Together we support charitable initiatives, discuss ways to make life better for women in Bahrain, promote female education, socialise, support each other and network.

What led you to start the organisation?

I moved back to Bahrain in 2011 and was seeking a group of fantastic women so I could make friends and network. Although great societies existed in Bahrain, there wasn’t one that I felt I really belonged to. I wanted an organisation that didn’t have a fixed criterion but rather represented every type of woman, women from different cultures and walks of life who bring new ideas and concepts to the table.

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PEOPLE | interview After a conversation with a friend, I was advised: “If you can’t find what you are looking for, create it!” That conversation eventually resulted in the creation of Afkarech which translates to “her ideas” in a Bahraini dialect.

I remember the very first Afkarech meeting with seven strangers. Despite there being only seven of us, we suddenly had a tribe - women drawn together for a similar goal. Four years later, I am thrilled to call these ladies not only Committee Members but my friends.

Afkarech holds social events for like-minded women. How have you worked around the challenges presented by the pandemic to continue facilitating lucrative networking opportunities?

To work around the difficulties presented by COVID-19, we reach our members in more creative ways such as Instagram Live talks known as “Afkarech Talks” in which we discuss numerous topics such as breast cancer prevention, alternative medicine and maintaining good mental health during COVID-19 aside from showcasing local female entrepreneurs in various industries to encourage members to buy locally. We also have fun competitions such as “Afkarech Social Distancing Queen” to encourage social distancing and give our members a chance to win prizes. We are hopeful that we will soon be able to meet again in person when it is safe as we are truly missing everyone!

How many women are currently members of Afkarech? How has the group grown since its founding?

We have over 180 subscribers to Afkarech Female Network & Think Tank; however, our core group consists of 45 members who regularly attend, are always proactive and engaged. Our membership steadily increased month by month and we are very thankful for media support and coverage for helping us

become more known in the Kingdom. We have recently opened up membership again for anyone who would like to join.

Could you kindly highlight some of your activities during Ramadan? How has the response to your initiative been since the start of the Holy Month?

This Ramadan we wanted to do something different. We constantly strive to reach women in need as there are many women holding down jobs to support their whole families and barely making ends meet. The idea for ‘Eidiyataha’ came about in a Committee Meeting; we packaged and distributed boxes containing essentials and a “special something extra” to Muslim female domestic workers and those struggling in low-income jobs.

Through these boxes we wanted to prepare each woman for Eid, not only in the sense of being able to eat and sustain herself, but also to savour the holy month and enjoy the sense of celebration. We would like to help those women who simply do not have the funds to purchase these items for themselves and are surviving on the bare necessities.

You have had several successful initiatives and collaborations. Which do you consider your most memorable initiatives?

There have been so many wonderful initiatives we have undertaken, but to me the two that stand out the most were ‘Safee by Afkarech’ in which we paid three months tuition for families who had been hit financially by

COVID19. I am really glad we had the foresight to have helped people out in the early stages. School fees were one of the largest expenses being faced by parents and they were very grateful that we were able to ease some of that stress.

The second initiative we loved was the Afkarech Care Packages for women living in shelters. We were truly blown away by how kind everyone was. The boxes contained everything you may need as a woman if you find yourself without accommodation and in difficult circumstances, aside from a card from the member that packaged the box. Handwritten notes of encouragement were included to help make each recipient feel thought of, supported and encouraged.

What are your goals for the rest of the year?

Our goals for the year are to host another women’s symposium and at least one more charity initiative. We created Intay in 2019 which was very successful with all tickets selling out. We have postponed our symposiums in 2020 due to the restrictions and keeping everyone safe however hopefully later in the year we may be able to go ahead Inshallah. We also want to do at least one more charitable initiative.

To get in touch with Afkarech, use the handle @afkarech on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn, email info@afkarech.com or visit www.afkarech.com.

www.womanthismonth.com

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BEAUTY | news

DIVINELY FLORAL

The Maison Lancôme fragrance collection celebrates the French way of life that defines the rose-inspired Lancôme brand. This year, the Maison Lancôme fragrance collection is dedicating the next chapter of its story to French-style gardens with two new fragrances: Jasmin d'Eau and Rose Peonia. Jasmin d’Eau, a fragrance by Olivier Cresp, is a divinely floral and based on a crystal-clear water jasmine scent set off by hints of tea, plum blossom, and subtle musk. Rose Peonia, on the other hand, is a fragrance by Marypierre Julien. With this perfume. a soft, bright scent of rose is set off by the velvety and slightly fruity notes of musk and ambrette, underpinned by a smooth and exceptional sandalwood essence.

For the Perfect Summer Glow!

HIGHLIGHT YOUR BEAUTY

We put together our top beauty essentials which will put a spring in your step. You deserve to treat yourself or get treated to divine makeup and other products that you’re sure to love.

If you seek a universally flattering glow that naturally enhances your features, Max Factor’s Facefinity Highlighter is made for you. Its lightweight and seamless powder finish boosts natural luminosity and enhances the skin to ensure your beauty is highlighted all summer. This highlighter has a superb blendable finish, doesn’t crease and keeps fine lines smooth to get a flawless finish.

The Facefinity Highlighter is available in three shades: Nude Beam, Golden Hour and Bronze Glow.

A SCENT TO REMEMBER

Dolce&Gabbana Pour Femme is an oriental fragrance that derives its appeal from its intricate play of contrasts.

The fragrance opens with sweet raspberry and luminous, sunny neroli, set against a hint of tart green mandarin.

This intriguing contrast gives way to a heart of voluptuous white florals and velvety notes of jasmine, melting into the citrus sweetness of orange blossom. In the base of the scent, an addictive note of sugary marshmallow introduces the gourmand sensuality of vanilla, amplified by delectable heliotrope and the smooth intensity of sandalwood.

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BEAUTY | news

THE GLOSS BOMB

Double up your gloss game this summer with Fenty Beauty’s dazzling Gloss Bomb Cream! For a limited time only, the stop-everything, giveit-to-me lip gloss that feels as good as it looks doubles up to deliver luscious color and explosive shine. The limited-edition set features two full-size Gloss Bomb Cream Color Drip Lip Creams in two new limited-edition summer shades, CUPCAKIN’ (dusty pink) and BUBBLE BINGE (hot pink). Available at Sephora, Sephora.ae and Sephora.sa

PERFECTLY PIGMENTED LIPS

Using formulas infused with enhancing ingredients such as natural oils and vitamins, NOTE COSMETIQUE's highly pigmented products for lips, eyes, face and nails cater to all skin types and skin tones.

NOTE COSMETIQUE is PETA cruelty-free certified, halal certified, and paraben free.

We personally love the NOTE Mattemoist Lipgloss - a creamy and moisture-rich formula which give the lips an intense matte look. The NOTE Mattever Lip Ink, on the other hand is a quick-drying lip gloss enriched with nourishing murumuru butter that locks in moisture and enhances your smile with kiss-proof colour and a mattified finish.

GLOW FOR DAY

SSunKiss Glow Sun & Body Oil is a vitaminenriched formula absorbs quickly and pairs well with sun protection. Formulated with natural ingredients, such as grapeseed oil, coconut oil, olive oil, carrot seed oil, raspberry seed oil and jojoba oil, the beach bag essential gives off a shimmering after-sun glow with an aromatic coconut scent – perfect to end a day at the beach or pool. The product is also free from nasties such as parabens, silicones, and toxins - guaranteeing an entirely safe application. SunKiss products are available at www.sunkissme.com. www.womanthismonth.com

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Accessories

MIX AND MATCH WITH AKILLIS

Rock n’ Roll, captivating and irresistible, Akillis takes hold with its sharp triangles from the refined Capture Me collection. The Capture Me collection enriches and renews its desirable charm with its collection of bracelets, rings and earrings each exploring thebrand’s now iconic triangular motif in a winning game. Available in white gold, rose gold and yellow gold, the pieces overlap, accumulate, and culminate in a rocking lineup!

Our Jewellery Wishlist

Our favourite dazzling accessories this month!

We sure love our fair share of exquisite jewellery. Earring, pendants, embellished cuffs and chainsof every length have a way of adding an element of exuberance to every outfit. Here are some of the most stunning jewellery collections that caught our attention this month.

THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS FRESH AND RADIANT EMERALDS

Gemfields is a world-leading supplier of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones. With the arrival of May and the green shoots of spring all around us, jewellery buyers’ thoughts inevitably turn to emeralds. Fresh, verdant and the birthstone of this most welcome of months, emeralds represent hope, peace, growth, nature and new beginnings: all of which are needed more than ever this year.

Of its many collaborative collections, the one that captured our attention were the exquisite range of timepieces such as the Backes & Strauss x Gemfields Miss Victoria Emerald Green.

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Valérie Messika has added new touches to her iconic Move collection with a whole new material: leather. These fun pieces can be customised to your individual preferences and can be worn on their own or with other My Move bracelets, giving you an endless range of combinations. Whether you’re after leather links, a matte or varnished finish, a pavé design, 100% gold or titanium, My Move provides a blank canvas where anything is possible. There are more than 300 bracelet combinations available, giving you a wide range of potential looks. The leather juxtaposes with the sparkle from the white diamond, the shimmer of the white, pink or yellow gold and the strength of the natural titanium, graphite or anthracite. www.womanthismonth.com

Accessories

COMBINING ARABIC HERITAGE WITH LUMINOUS CHARMS

Emirati brand MKS Jewellery has launched a new collection of ornate pieces which incorporate an array of crescent moons and celestial stars. The unique collection comprises a vast array of beautiful pieces, from the treasured Desert Scape Medallion Necklace, to golden celestial rings, and charming hoop and stud earrings.

Every feature incorporates artistic details; be it with the craftsmanship, the personal storytelling or the connection to Emirati heritage. The carefully crafted pieces are both stylish and sophisticated, with each piece unique and evoking a certain emotion.

TIFFANY

Celebrate the special moments with your loved ones and spread joy this Eid with the perfect giftthat comes in a Tiffany Blue Box. Tiffany & Co. has a specially curated selection, featuring the new Atlas X collection and the iconic Tiffany T1, Tiffany HardWear and Tiffany Victoria® collections.

This luxurious and tailored gift guide includes bold, dynamic rings and bracelets that can bestackedor worn alone, to beautifully handcrafted necklaces and earrings that sparkle with the finest diamonds.

EXCEPTIONAL REVERSO ONE TIMEPIECES

For 2021 Jaeger-LeCoultre introduces four sparkling new Reverso One models that unite the codes of fine watchmaking, artistic crafts and High Jewellery to bring fresh colour, sophistication and glamour to the collection.

The creation of these exquisite timepieces has brought together multiple artistic crafts – enamelling, engraving and gem-setting work. The exceptional models celebrate the poetry of flowers, with two models in white gold and two in pink gold each showcasing rare handcrafts in different combinations. www.womanthismonth.com

May 2021

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PEOPLE | interview

g n i d on B t r A h g u o r h T Guest artist at Bahrain’s recent Love & Inspire Art Exhibition, Narmeen Albaker, tells us about the inspiration behind her art and her experience painting with her daughter.

B

ahrain’s art scene recently celebrated the everlasting mother-child bond by way of the ‘Love & Inspire’ Art Exhibition, which was held on Bahrain Mother’s Day in March. During the event, which was organised by Art Fusions Studio Bahrain's group of artists in collaboration with Fosbis Design and Marketing, we met with the lovely guest artist Narmeen Albaker.

Amazed by the artistic creations of a family member, Mrs. Albaker soon realised she had a knack for creativity too. “I’ve been painting since I was in school. My uncle who is an artist always amazed me with his artistic creations and, seeing his creativity, I soon ventured into art and realised that I too have that creativity and potential,” she says, adding that her favourite medium to work with is acrylic.

Delving into the world of art, Mrs. Albaker has attended workshops in London and Bahrain, and is no stranger to the Kingdom’s boisterous art scene. “I have displayed my art work at Bahrain’s annual Fine Art Exhibition, Alali Art Festival, Akkas Gallery, the Emerging Artists Exhibition and, most recently, the Love and Inspire Exhibition by Art Fusions Studios, which was held at the Bahrain Financial Harbour,” she says.

At the exhibition, we marvelled at ‘Waiting’ Mrs. Albaker’s thought-provoking work of art.

“I intended to express our emotions resulting from restrictions due to political issues, which furthered the distance between our loved and prolonged the wait,” she explains.

During the recent Love and Inspire exhibition, the illustrious artist was joined by her very own daughter, Alreem. “At just 10-years-old,

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Alreem is naturally very talented and has been inspired by my uncle, Abdulla Al Muharraqi, my cousin, Faisal Samra, and me,” explains the beaming mother.

Painting together has given the motherdaughter duo the opportunity to spend more time together while exchanging ideas and creating works of art on canvas, further strengthening their unbreakable bond.

“Alreem feels very happy when we’re painting together. She feels motivated and encouraged to spend more time doing art work. It stimulates her creativity and helps her come out with even more great ideas,” she says.

During the exhibition, Alreem displayed her work ‘The Spring’ alongside her mother’s paintings. “Spring is her most favourite season. The flowers during spring bring out a lot of happiness in her,” says her mother.

Seeing their art displayed side-by-side at the recent exhibition has left the mother and daughter feeling encouraged and motivated.

Speaking about Alreem’s artistic mind, she adds: “I always encourage and allow her to use my art media without any restrictions.”

In the future, Mrs. Albaker hopes to turn her passion for art into a profession and eventually open her very own art gallery. www.womanthismonth.com

LIFESTYLE | opinion

PLACING WELLBEING AT THE HEART OF A SCHOOL Julia Knight reflects on the need for wellbeing in the education sector.

T

he negative effect of the COVID-19 crisis has been well documented over the last 18 months and it has realigned priorities for many. However, in all the chaos, could it be that we are also able to reimagine the future?

Education has seen a seismic shift in its ability to adapt quickly to the needs of students and parents. The profession has shown itself to be adaptable and capable of change in the delivery of lessons but is it now time to apply those skills to curriculums and other areas of school life? Have we come to realise that excelling in Maths and English is as important as friendships, playing and being happy? I hope so.

Wellbeing is the current buzz word of education - yet not many schools truly understand what wellbeing is or how to implement it. What wellbeing looks like and how it is implemented is very important as its benefits are great for the school and student and, whilst wellbeing is not something that can be quantified in its own right, educators know that it has a very important impact on test scores. www.womanthismonth.com

When people are asked what wellbeing is, there is a range of answers as it is personal to them, the essence of wellbeing is happiness and what makes a person happy is different. There are of course essential elements such as eating healthy, sleeping well, exercise and hobbies but the science behind why these elements are essential requires a deeper understanding too. Teaching this to children from an early age is vital for future examination success.

Ultimately, every parent wants their child to thrive academically and find their path as an adult beyond university.

Schools cannot wait until students are 14 – 15 years old to be pushed towards examination success, students must begin the journey much lower down the school in EYFS (Early Years, Foundation Stage). This is where good reading habits are fostered, this is where the love of maths and science blossoms, this is where every single child discovers what they want to be when they grow up. If we can teach children the art of happiness and wellbeing from a young age; teach them who to turn to when they feel unsure in the world; help them

to see and regulate their emotions - surely we are building the foundations for teens and young adults to make the right choices when life presents its many challenges?

Schools are turning their faces to the sun and realising that it’s not just the academics which are a major factor in academic success; it is also the resilience of success through failure and the collaborative learning that enables mastery. Students require space to learn not a desk and chair but an environment that encourages curiosity and inquisitiveness. In short, schools need to adapt to provide inside and outside spaces for learning and discovery, opportunities for collaboration and connection and place wellbeing at its core. We need to reimagine the future as a happier, healthier space for the next generation.

Julia Knight has been teaching for 18 years in London, Bangkok and, now, Bahrain. She writes for many education magazines worldwide and offers teacher training and consultancy. You can follow her on Twitter @KnightWilliams

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FASHION | styling

Y T I R B E L E C !

N O I H S FA

Giorgio Armani dressed select nominees, winners, presenters and honorees of the Oscars and while out and about.

Nominee Glenn Close wore a custom Giorgio Armani Privé vibrant blue longsleeved tunic entirely encrusted in crystals set in a geometric pattern with contrasting silver and black beading. She

In need of some fashion inspo? Here’s what select stars wore at the 93rd Academy Awards

completed the look with midnight blue silk cigarette trousers and evening gloves.

Emma Roberts was spotted in Los Angeles in a Gingham-check print babydoll collar shirt by MANGO.

Presenter Renée Zellweger wore a custom Giorgio Armani Privé peony pink strapless silk gown with draped satin lapels at the neckline and a dramatic front slit, accented by a delicate crystalembroidered trim.

Award-winning actress, Laura Dern, chose to wear Pomellato during the Oscars in Hollywood, California. She wore a stunning Pomellato Sabia bracelet, rings and earrings in a mix of white, brown and black diamonds.

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NOURISHING SKINCARE 5 Skincare Products for a Youthful Glow!

FOR ULTIMATELY NOURISHED LIPS

The Rituals Fortune Balm - SPF 30 provides targeted nourishment and UVA/UVB protection to the lips. The durable, water-resistant formula is perfect for an active lifestyle, offering a protective shield against damaging sun rays and the damaging effects of free radicals. Enriched with an exclusive blend of rich oils - including olive oil, jojoba oil and coconut oil - to help moisturise the lips, the antioxidants in grapeseed oil and Vitamin E help smooth the skin and protect against aging and pollution.

With high-stress lifestyles, pollutants and fatigue on the rise, it’s important that we have a sound skincare routine in place to maintain or restore a youthful glow! While various factors might’ve left us with dull skin, tired eyes and fine wrinkles, all hope is not lost. Here are our favourite protective and antiaging products which are sure to be an effective part of your routine.

ESSENTIAL ANTIAGEING FOR ALL AGES

The Nuxe Paris Super Serum [10] innovation is the ultimate addition to all anti-ageing routines regardless of age or skin type. The siliconefree formula contains fractionated botanical oils delicately infused with a serum base with Natural Hyaluronic Acid. The serum doesn’t just smell divine, but transforms your skin from the first use, leaving it smoother, plumper and more luminous while working away at wrinkles and dark spots and promoting firmness. The serum is ideal for use on the face, neck and décolleté.

HYDRATE AND PROTECT WITH THIS MIST

Say hello to the brandnew Bouncy Jelly Mist, here to help protect the skin from indoor and outdoor pollution, as well as the effects of blue light. Made with 96% ingredients of natural origin, including edelweiss stem cells from the Italian Alps, you can spritz the Jelly Mist wherever and whenever to help protect, refresh and hydrate the skin for up to 24 hours.

www.womanthismonth.com

OPEN YOUR EYES TO HONEY POWER With a threefold eye-lifting effect Guerlain’s Eye R Repair Serum halts the early appearance of visible signs of ageing on the eye contour. Eyes often show the first tell-tale signs of ageing as skin tissue loses firmness and eyebrows sink, leaving eyes looking heavier, sadder, smaller and less radiant. With this serum, you won’t have to worry about any of that as it targets skin and nerve cell damage! This serum tightens, lifts and smooths the area while brightening the eyes and delivering natural radiance. In addition, it targets the cause of dark circles and eliminates fat clusters that cause puffiness.

HYDRATION BY NATURE

Givenchy’s RESSOURCE is the first moisturising anti-stress treatment which corrects the harmful effects of psychological fatigue on the skin and rebalances its moisture content. The line contains atleast 96% natural ingredients and is designed to be compatible with all skin types, even the most sensitive.

We particularly loved the Rich Moisturising Cream which provides extra nutrition, leaving skin hydrated, nourished, soft and smooth.

It’s a real source of comfort for dry and dehydrated skin.

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parenting

WHEN KIDS USE INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE

M

aybe, at first, you laugh out loud because it caught you off guard. Or maybe, you're shocked because you don't use that kind of language in your home and want it to stop immediately! After the initial shock, you have one question in mind: "How do I deal with it?"

Why do kids say inappropriate things even when we do not use such language at home, and we carefully choose what they are exposed to on TV and social media platforms?

By age four, most children are not only in preschool but also have playdates where they interact with groups of children and adults. By this age kids soak up all kind of information like sponges, and therefore they are learning everything that might cross their path, whether it's good or bad.

All of us, including young children, need to feel that we are capable of affecting others.

This is particularly true of preschoolers, who are becoming increasingly aware of themselves as unique human beings, separate

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Ouiam Charkani El Hassani gives us some invaluable advice on how to keep our little ones from using foul language!

from their families. They are discovering new vocabulary daily, and they find it exciting to play with new words, especially when something new happens after they say a new word, this makes them feel powerful.

a different reaction every time your child blurts out a bad word can have a negative effect; rather than fix the problem, it will be a fun game for the child to see what mommy's reaction will be this time.

When adults hear a young child use inappropriate language, they usually either laugh or are shocked and do not respond. This can be confusing to the child and may make it harder to address the issue. When a child uses inappropriate language, address it directly and immediately. Stay calm, keep a straight face, and say to her, "That's a word we don't use here." If the child asks why, explain in a simple manner why not. For example: "That can hurt someone's feelings" or "Most people do not like those words."

The simpler and more direct we are when dealing with this issue, the better outcomes we will have. Half of the problem is that parents tend to make it into a big deal serving the child's exact purpose: Getting attention.

Consistency is the key! The aim is to explain how some words are not respectful and not to be used in our households, a simple rule like the other rules each parent has in their house, such as: "No speaking with your mouth full," "No hitting," "No snatching”, etc. Having

Ignoring the child and his use of bad words has the same negative effects as having a different reaction every time. Ignoring your child simply deprives them of the attention they are craving. Instead, fulfill their need and give them the attention they crave while correcting the behaviour. Try to get to your child's level, look them in the eyes, speak firmly but nicely and tell them that this kind of language isn't acceptable and that you can happily help them choose better words if they would like to. www.womanthismonth.com

parenting

If a child continues to use inappropriate language, be consistent in your response and try to figure out why a child may be using it, it will make it easier to work with the child to deal with the problem.

Watch closely to find out when the child uses inappropriate language and what's happening at the time. Also, think about what you and others say to the children and around the children. Children may be hearing conversations that you think are out of listening range. Remember— children will repeat what you say and do. Be sure to use the same words that you want the children to use. Work with the rest of the family to find a common way to respond to the child when he uses inappropriate language and be consistent.

Be consistent!

Don't forget to praise your child's efforts when faced with a situation where they would have possibly used the bad language, yet they didn't; to them this could be the best reward ever.

www.womanthismonth.com

May 2021

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LIFESTYLE | food

A HEARTWARMING SOUP! Chef Faisal’s decadent recipe for Mushroom Soup is sure to be a favourite at your dinner table!

We’ve had a wonderful Ramadan so far and look forward to the festivities surrounding Eid, too!

After feasting on Chef Faisal Al Deleigan’s delicious recipes last month, we were treated to another crowd favourite – Mushroom Soup. This decadent recipe is sure to be a welcome addition to your family’s dinner table, whether it’s Ramadan, Eid, summer vacation or even just a Tuesday evening with family. Whatever the occasion, we’re sure you’ll love it

MUSHROOM SOUP

Total Cooking Time: 20 minutes - Servings: 1

Ingredients

Garnish

Fresh mushrooms(sliced) 30 gms

Dill leaves

1 sprig

White onion

15 gms

Cream foam

1 tbsp

Butter

20 gms

Sumac

1 pinch

Sea salt

¼ tsp

White pepper powder ¼ tsp Black pepper powder

¼ tsp

Sweet paprika powder 1/8 tsp Cooking cream

80 ml

Water

250 ml

Method In a saucepan, add butter, mushrooms and onion then sauté. Add all the spices including salt. Mix it well, then add water and cook for 5 minutes. Add cream and cook for around three minutes. Remove from the heat.

Blend for one minute until smooth. While serving, garnish with dill leaves, cream foam and sumac.

Chef Faisal is a Saudi Arabian banker turned Chef and is a member of the World Master Chef’s Society and founder of Chef Faisal Consultancy.

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In Her Shoes What’s your proudest achievement?

It was the time I was invited to speak to the graduating class at my school, 15 years after I had graduated. It was such an honour to be there and I sincerely hope I was able to inspire the students to face the journey ahead with optimism and confidence.

Women have the power to achieve just about anything they put their mind to. They’ll take every challenge in stride while getting the best of results. This month we had the pleasure of meeting with the founder of My Gold Souq, Amy Vaya, who is a multi-talented individual being a comedian and writer too! She’s pretty hilarious, motivated and hard-working – truly an inspirational woman.

last word

What’s your favourite film?

Fight Club made quite an impression on me because it made me consider how much energy we waste on trying to impress others.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?

The future will come to you as the present, so make sure you're enjoying the present every day.

What is your dream holiday destination?

Iceland. It has such an end of the world feeling, and I want to see the Northern Lights.

What skill would you like to learn?

I would like to get really good at a martial art.

Amy Vaya

What would your life be incomplete without?

My loved ones.

What’s a mantra you live by?

Every day, in every way, I'm getting better and better. www.womanthismonth.com

What are you looking forward to the most?

Do you have a hidden talent?

I am totally convinced I can talk to cats!

I'm looking forward to the stage where my business is firmly established and growing.

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