Your Local Bahraini Guide!
Happenings around Bahrain
HalaBahrain Magazine Magazine August 2009 - Volume 2 - Issue 2
We cover concerts, comedy shows and more!
Places to Go Things to Do
Ramadan
Events
Things to do during the month
Tradition And much more!
HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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Editorial
HalaBahrain Magazine
A… C...
Lifestyle - Technology Entertainment - Events
Dear Readers, As we dive right into the hottest month of the year (and most humid), we keep our AC’s on, curtains closed, and fridge full of cold cold drinks. Yes, August is here, and any chances of doing things outdoors die out. We’ve covered a few of the events that went on over the past month (all indoors of course), and with Ramadan just around the corner, we’ve put in a bunch of suggestions for where to go and what to do. For those planning to get away in the last few days before Ramadan, we’ve got somewhere different than the regular destinations Bahraini’s end up flying to; Nepal! As two of our own fly over to check it out, we’ve got the review. Again, we would love to hear from you about anything; send us your emails with thoughts about the magazine, letters, ideas, and let us know what you’re thinking!
©
The Team Editor-in-Chief Ammar Al-Aradi Creative Director Fardan Raffi Public Relations Mazen Madhloom
Copyright Information © All Rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Liability: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequence arising it. HalaBahrain is a fully registered online publication with the Bahrain Ministry of Information, under registration number EQHBH210
Till next time,
Ammar Al-Aradi Editor In-Chief
HalaBahrain is published monthly; to view the magazine, for a free subscription, or to download a copy, please visit www.halabahrain.com. For advertising and all enquiries, please contact admin@halabahrain.com
admin@halabahrain.com
www.HalaBahrain.com admin@halabahrain.com
HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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Upcoming
News, Events & Happenings
A few more weeks till Ramadan! The Summer Festival still has a few more shows lined up, so if you haven’t had a chance to check any of them out, there are still a few more! A display of oriental flamenco is on at the 13th of August at the Cultural Hall, which promises to be a breathtaking display of Spanish dance. For something different, check out the Aleppian Sufi Trance on the 20th. Also, on the 17th, Sami Yusuf, the well known Islamic rock star comes to town. Catch the last SunSet Session and take a ferry to AlDar Islands on the 14th, where you can chill by the beach all day, and party through sundown. Looking for somewhere to take the kids? The summer program at BMSA gives the small ones fun games to play and also expand their minds; from chess to checkers, scrabble, bridge and more. Looking for local musical talent? Check out Seef Mall for the UrTalent@UrFilez concerts, with Indian music and dance on the 13th, and Arabic on the 14th. Of course, as Ramadan comes in, all events shift to eating, eating, eating, eating‌ No seriously, since everything seems to revolve around food, the typical hangouts seem to be restaurants and coffee shops! Besides every hotel having one, Ramadan tents also seem to spring up all over the place. Busy? Probably yes. Overpriced? Definitely. But they do end up being a nice gathering spot, and some even have live traditional music. Go to at least one before the month is through.
1 - 20 August Tennis Course Location: BTF Course Contact: +973-39441992 13-14 August UrTalent @ UrFilez Location: Seef Mall West Wing Contact: urtalent@urfilez.com 13 August Flamenco Orientale Location: Culture Hall Contact: +973-17211026 14 August Final SunSet Session Location: Al Dar Islands Timing: 10:0am - 8:00pm Contact: +973 - 39991377 info@aldarislands.com August 15 - 23 Mind Sports Location: BMSA Contact: +973 - 17340016 17 August Sami Yusuf Location: University of Bahrain Contact: +973-800008089 20 August Aleppian Sufi Trance Location: Cultural Hall Contact: +973-17211026 20 August - 20 September Fawanees Ramadan Location: Ritz Carlton Island Timing: 5:00pm-2:00am Contact: +973-17252670 fawanees@muse-me.com
HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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HalaBahrain Mail Got something to say? Whatever it is, let us know, email us on: admin@halabahrain.com. Best letter of the month wins a brand new Apple iPod Nano! ———— FROM: Anwar SUBJECT: Congrats!
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HB for HB! Happy Birthday for Hala Bahrain! Well done guys on a full year of an amazingly done magazine. HB for HB. Dude, that was beyond lame. ———— FROM: Sarah SUBJECT: Samboosa Hey I want Samboosa :( What do you expect us to give you, 300 fils vouchers to redeem from A.Qader? Go buy some! ———— FROM: Sakina SUBJECT: SMS Services
Dear Sir/Madam, we can offer you a frehs pair of eyes to look at yuor business and help you develop and grow your businiess no matter what size or type trough SMS Services. We don’t mind spam too much, but come on, at least try to spell things correctly at least!? ———— FROM: Alya SUBJECT: I waaaaaannttt Abiiii Sambooossssaaaaaaa I loved the review really nice now I really want! We literally got a good 50-60 emails asking for Samboosa. Maybe we should start a samboosa shop.
HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
FROM: Ed SUBJECT: YUM! Your issue had me drooling! Please please call me next time you go on another food hunt +973-36######!! I’d love to join, and to add, I need to win that iPod too, so if any of the HB team need your cars washed, beds done up, etc, just let me know! Aw dammit Ed, how can we say no to a free car wash? We’ve skipped the food hunt for this month, but we’ll be going on another one next issue and you’re invited! Oh, and say hello to your brand new iPod!
Letter of the Month
Congrats on the one year anniversary guys, keep up the excellent work, quality and material sure has gone up since the 1st issues were released! As for the local food coverage, simply one of the best articles I’ve read in ages! The shawarma and samboosa reviews are a work of art! One of our original readers! Perfect. We’re glad you’ve enjoyed our ‘works of art’, and keep your eyes open for the coming issues, we’re lining up a few surprises! ;)
FROM: Sammy SUBJECT: Happy Birthday!
Win me!
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Events
UrTalent@UrFilez
HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
Visitors to Seef Mall over the past month were in for a surprise! Walking through the mall, loud music was heard coming from the new section. What was it? As part of the Zain/Seef Summer Carnival, UrFilez had set up a huge stage right in the middle of the Seef West Wing, bringing local performers for live music and dance.
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The line-up of performers included DJ Outlaw, Flipp & May for hiphop & RnB, The Amigos Band playing latin tunes, The Legends with their unique reggae beats, and Cordoba Band performing flamenco jazz. Make sure to catch the last weekend of performances on the 13th of the month for Indian song and dance, and the 14th for Arabic music night! For more info check out www.UrFilez.com
HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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Events
Cheb Khalid
The famous Didi Didi singer, Cheb Khalid, came down for a one night performance at Arad Fort, as part of the Bahrain Summer of Music. A great night, with a packed Arad Fort as everyone danced and swayed to Cheb Khalid’s songs!
Photography by: Mohamed Reza Panahi Tel +973-36331341
HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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Events
The Funniest Person In Bahrain!
HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
Two rounds of the search for the funniest person in Bahrain are up! Mixing in stand-up comedy along with think-fast improv sessions, Aqua Feugo was filled with laughter and tears as the contestants for the title of funniest battled it out in random scenarios (everything from Who Wants to be a Millionaire; Indian version, to a cooking show with a cook who couldn’t use his own hands. Next shows coming up right after Ramadan!
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HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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News
Bahrain News Wahoo Waterpark
We got the inside scoop on the waterpark! Sure, it’s launch date may have been delayed a time or two, but we’ve been inside, seen the park coming up and almost ready! A little bird tells us we should be splishing and splashing there just after Eid! With 30% of the waterpark outdoors for the sunny days, 70% indoors for fun all year long, one of the biggest wave makers in the Middle East, and a bunch of other surprises makes this a definite go-to spot! More Swine Flu Alerts! Yup, it seems there have been more swine flu alerts over the past month than you can shake a stick at, and magazines warning everyone to be careful and take care. Sure, we definitively encourage good hygiene, but we really do believe swine flu is nothing more than a strong flu, pushed to scare everyone else by the newspapers, radio and TV. Yup, there you have it; the first media report actually telling you not to worry about it! HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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Ramadan
Ramadan
Iftar Buffets Sure, Ramadan is all about spending time with the family right? True, but don’t let that stop you from sneaking out to one of the great Iftar buffets being held around the country at least once during the month!
The month of Ramadan is here, and with it come so many feelings and emotions; some love it for the peace and tranquility that it brings, giving them the chance to worship more and get closer to Allah. Others enjoy the late nights out, whether that includes cruising around the local streets, seeing the shops buzz with people rushing to get their Eid clothes, or hanging out in the local gahwa with a sheesha in hand. Others enjoy the gathering of the family to eat, watch TV shows and spend time together. Not everyone enjoys the month, however; some hate it for the stress it puts on their body, others hate the fact that everyone is in such a bad mood during the day, and some don't appreciate the fact that they just can't grab a Big Mac before sunset. Whichever one of these people you are, we've listed some of the many things you can do this Ramadan to make the month more enjoyable/beneficial, and some tips on how to pass the hunger during the day.
There are quite a lot to choose from, so you’re spoilt for choice. Check out Novotel for a beach facing iftar meal, The Banyan Tree Resort for something far out in the desert, or Ritz Carlton for a meal that will fill your stomach and empty your wallet! All major hotels & restaurants have iftar buffets, so ask around!
Mall Hopping Considering the weather isn’t that great just, hopping from one mall to another doesn’t seem like such a bad idea! And with all the special Ramadan happenings at most malls, the ‘going to the mall’ thing doesn’t seem as boring as it used to.
HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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Ramadan
Sheesha Not that we encourage smoking, but the month of Ramadan is usually associated with going out to a coffee shop/gahwa, and ordering a sheesha. The more modern gahwas include all sorts of food and drinks, and a lively environment, while more traditional ones usually mix the whole thing with a game of cards or dominoes. HalaBahrain recommendations? The obvious Veranda & Bandaira in Adliya, or for a more traditional setting, check out Beirut in old-town Manama! Sleeping/Napping TV Shows
The only time people actually watch Bahrain TV, Ramadan is filled with TV shows that people watch over and after iftar, prompting weight gain from eating and not moving. These Ramadan TV shows usually end up being either dramas full of exaggerated tears and sadness, or silly (not so funny) comedies, and more recently Arabic cartoons. Lovely.
Probably the most popular Ramadan pastime of all! Shorter working hours and long waiting times until iftar means quite a lot of you decide to hit the bed for a while! Not necessarily the true meaning of Ramadan (as you’re supposed to stay up and feel the hunger pains to get how the poor feel, eventually leading to Zakaa), but honestly, who can resist a nice comfy bed? We’re split on this!
HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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Ramadan
Fasting Tips: •
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When it is time to break fast, do not over-eat; slow down, take it easy, and don't push your stomach. This also goes for eating in general during the non-fasting hours; if you try to keep your stomach as full as possible during the evenings, it's going to feel comparatively very empty in the morning, and you'll just feel hungrier (especially true for over-eating at Suhoor time). If you try to make it during the day with not so much food, your body adjusts, and you'll find it easier to fast. Drink lots of water and fruit juices over the non-fasting period, to adjust for the periods where you aren't taking in any fluids. Try to cut down on fruit drinks (which are technically just flavored water and sugar), soft-drinks (Coke, Pepsi etc), and other non-natural beverages, which might actually make you feel more dehydrated the next day (due to excess amount of sugar and processed content). Avoid fatty and fried foods, which give the illusion of
filling you up. They make you heavy, but within a few hours you're hungry again. Try to eat more fruits/ vegetables, and natural foods that include fiber, grains and seeds. Especially useful are: - Dates; which are an excellent source of sugar, fiber and carbohydrates - Almonds; provide protein and fiber with less fat - Bananas; provide potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates •
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Try to cut down/avoid foods with processed sugar (especially the sweets we find so many of during Ramadan). Sugar is important, but it is much better to get natural sugar from dates and other fruits. Also try to avoid salty foods closer to Suhoor time. These will dry you up and you'll end up feeling very thirsty the next day (Personal experience; avoid Tikka late at night!) Overall, take it easy on the food, don't overstuff yourself, and use common sense. Try to take in more natural foods, to cut-down on processed ones, and just east wisely. Happy Fasting!
HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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Nepal
Travel
By: Manaf Alsabbagh
Bahraini’s typically have the same summer holiday destinations (Landaan, Iran, Thailand etc). This issue we highlight a not-oft visited location: Nepal. Seeking thrills and adventure, two of our brethren head off to lands unknown. Here is their tale:
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rriving at the airport with our stuffed backpacks after a tiring five hour flight, we were soon bombarded by taxi drivers fighting for our fare “One dollar To Tamil district!” The trip turned out to be a thirty minute cab ride into the heart of the city, not too shabby for one buck! Tamil District Tamil district lies in th heart of the capital city of Kathmandu, built in a valley surrounded by the Himalayan mountains, which are bigger than Jabel Dakhan (but only slightly). Most of the hotels in the city can be found in the Tamil district. We found ours by word of mouth, which was easy as English is widely spoken in the country. It was off season, so we managed to get a double bed room for 20 USD! Without a chance of getting settled, the hotel manager tried to plan our 5 day journey with packages and special offers. Most tour guides and store keepers will pursue a sale quite aggressively, so make sure to be strong willed and don't worry about being a little rough! After we commandeered a map from our hotel we decided to jump into the smoky streets and get lost in the city. HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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Travel
Durban Square Located South of Tamil, Durban is a Massive collection of Hindu Temples and idols. It takes about an hour to walk there, two if you get lost, but its more fun that way (real men don't ask for directions). The way there was probably as amazing as the actual site. The little streets of Kathmandu are its veins, pulsating with the flow of scooters and bikes, massive crowds of people and even the occasional goat or cow! At times, the smell of trash and sewage get overwhelming and you have to just hold your breath and walk a little faster. The smells were probably the most unpleasant part of the trip, but at the actual sites it's fine.
Finally, we arrived at Durban Square to witness a massive collection of temples and statues . The scale of this area is incredible and several freelance guides are available to take you around, for a small fee of course. We decided to free style, and it still took us two hours to see everything. Monkey Temple The monkey temple is a two hour walk from the Tamil district including a short river crossing. Upon arrival to the base of the mountain, the temple's dome was just visible at the peak. At the base of the mountain, a staircase ascends to the top. HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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Travel
Several stops on the way up allow you to take a break and spot monkeys in the trees. Once you reach the top, a breathtaking view of the capital is visible with massive mountains surrounding the valley in the backdrop. At the top of the mountain you will find a group of religious sites as well as a small town which included a group of traditional Buddhist monks dressed in red and orange robes. Chitwan National Park Chitwan is a large national park about five hours bus ride from Tamil. There are plenty of tour agents around the city and you can ask your hotel to help arrange a trip for several days. Our first stop was a traditional village with roaming livestock, houses made of branches and farmers. Next stop was the elephant camp; a short river crossing took us to a group of about fifteen elephants. One baby elephant was let out of its pen and allowed to play with all the tourists. The next day we rode an elephant through the forest for a couple of hours, and then went trekking in the jungle. After crossing the river the guide told us to watch out for sloth bears who stand on two feet and prefer to use their claws on your face when not biting. He also warned us of rhinos and in case of an encounter we were instructed to run away in zig zags while stripping our clothes and leaving them as a distraction for the rhino. This was a little unsettling, however, he told us after the boat left which was quite convenient. HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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Travel
Later that night we went to a traditional Nepalese dance with a man in an ostrich suit. It was strange but he pulled it off. The next morning we traveled back to Kathmandu.
Shopping On our last day we just decided to buy presents for the family (OMG, SHOPPING!!!), so we walked around Tamil looking for cool stuff. One thing to always remember is to haggle. Shopkeepers will typically raise their prices 2-4 times if they know you are a foreigner, and expect you to push them down. There were a lot of great places with authentic souvenirs and jewelry and cashmere shawls. On the way back we came across a live band playing in a rooftop bar / shesha / restaurant. It was an surprisingly good band but I couldn't tell you how to get there. All in all, the trip was quite an adventure, we got on the plane sleep deprived and sore, but I had a renewed sense of vitality I hadn't felt in a long time.
What you need to know: Visa: issued at airport in Nepal, you need US$ 30 cash and passport pictures Cash: our whole trip was about 400BD, Including airfare (170BD). Take US dollars, they are widely accepted, but make sure to exchange at legitimate exchangers. Shots: hepatitis A, Typhoid and whatever your local clinic recommends a good two weeks before your trip.
HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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HalaBahrain Magazine | August 2009
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