Essential 'Find-A-Husband' Bra Accessories..

Diamante bra straps.

For narrow backed dresses.



Low backed dresses

Small chicken filets.

And the whoppers.

Found these at Debenhams, Souq Sharq today ;O)

Juicy Couture up to 50% off Sale.

Visit Juicy Couture on the Ground Level, 360 Mall.

LWDLIK- Much as I'd like to dash over there, I have a 7 year old who needs constant supervision whilst revising for year 3 exams. Science tomorrow :O{

A Few Pics of Cirque du Soleil in Case you Missed it..

And more [link]
It was very cold out there, only a few toilets for what seemed like a 1000 people and the spectators could have done with tiered seating as the people at the back would have found it difficult to see. There were huge screens showing a close-up of the show so that helped somewhat. In general a good time. Hope to see more events like this in Kuwait.

BSK Presents 'Blood Brothers'

Click for larger image.

HELP! PAWS to be Forced Out of New Shelter all the Animals are at Risk

From K'S PATH..

2010 has been an exceptionally difficult year for the animal welfare community in Kuwait. In March, K’S PATH experienced a deadly fire that took the lives of 42 animals and destroyed the majority of our shelter complex. 43 dogs had to be evacuated by air to the United States and an additional 20 dogs were placed into foster care due to a lack of temporary shelter space. 35 cats had to be placed in foster care as well. At the same time, the temperature soared and our wild and farm animal population continued to grow and receive care. In October, at long last, construction was completed and K’S PATH again began to accept animals.
Meanwhile, the other animal welfare organization in Kuwait, the Protecting Animal Welfare Society or PAWS, was facing problems of its own. In early 2009, PAWS received notice that they would be forced out of their facility by the end of 2010. In November of this year they vacated their space in Old Wafra and moved to a new space near Kebd.
On the 28th of November 2010, K’S PATH management was informed that PAWS would likely be evicted from their new space by interior ministry police forces responding to noise complaints. It was initially reported to K'S PATH that PAWS received notice on or around the 22nd of November that the nearly 80 dogs being housed outdoors in temporary caging were causing an unacceptable noise level and that police forces would respond by the 29th of November to “shoot the dogs.” History has shown us that police forces responding to noise complaints involving dogs frequently use the threat of lethal support to effect a rapid change. The most common method of actually dealing with the problem is to release the animals onto the streets so that they are no longer confined. Obviously the likelihood of that many pet animals surviving on the streets is nonexistent in Kuwait.
Without a formal request, and with our management away in the United States, K’S PATH immediately took emergency precautions to receive a reported 80 dogs and 80 cats from PAWS. Our shelter manager scoured our facility looking to partner friendly dogs together, conducted an inventory of all large dog cages in storage, inspected our emergency kennels in a greenhouse near our complex, surveyed our cat accommodations looking for space and did a count of available cat crates. The result was 10 permanent dog kennels, 14 emergency dog kennels, 21 large wire dog cages, 10 plastic dog crates, 7 cat cages, and 20 cat crates. We are also in the process of clearing a container full of new cat cages that had been ordered from the US at a cost of more than $35,000. Our volunteer coordinator put out a plea to our volunteers requesting they look at their schedules and attempt to accommodate one or more full shelter days to assist our staff in accommodating this huge influx of animals.
Though 80 dogs and 80 cats would more than double our current population of companion animals, K’S PATH stands ready to assist the animal victims of this unfortunate circumstance.
K’S PATH volunteers that have completed our volunteer orientation course can email volunteers@kspath.org. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to find out how they can help. Should we be formally asked to accept these animals, we will need emergency financial support as well. The medical costs of doing intake on 160 animals will be staggering, not to mention the additional cat litter and food. We will put out specific pleas in the coming days should they be necessary. Thank you for your support.
K'S PATH
Telephone: 965.6700.1622
Fax: 965.2523.4179



LWDLIK- Ok Kuwait government isn't it time to have some official, government funded shelters for God's furry creations.

Cinemagic Kuwait December Schedule

[link]

'Airplane!' star Leslie Nielsen dies at 84

Leslie Nielsen, who traded in his dramatic persona for inspired bumbling as a hapless doctor in "Airplane!" and the accident-prone detective Frank Drebin in "The Naked Gun" comedies, died on Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 84.

LWDLIK- He looked darn good for 84. Sad he was a hilarious.

Real Christmas Trees in Kuwait

Not so large ones ;O) can be ordered from http://www.christmastreesinkuwait.com/  and whilst googling I found a site www.christmastree.org/care.cfm with instructions on how to care for a real tree. Only 27 days left :O)
And some buddies have told me you can sometimes find them at the nurseries along the 4th ring road.

LoYAC- 'Service is My Joy 2011'

Participants volunteer once a week for two to three hours at the centers assigned to them. They must complete a minimum of 16 hours to receive certificate.

Registration Terms :
- For youth of 15-27 years
- For Committment & Ambition Committee 8-10 years
- All nationalities are welcome
- 2 photographs and copy of ID
For registration and details contact :
Fatemah Al Beloushi
Assistant Manager - Local Volunteering Programs
Telephone : +965 - 25727399 ext - 102
Email : servicemyjoy@loyac.org
Address : LoYAC - Bayt Lothan - Next to Marina Mall - Salmiya.

The program aims to bring young people to serve their community and draw smiles on the faces of others, through volunteering in various centers such as: KACCH, Abeer 2, Down Syndrome Center, Kuwait Red Crescent, Kuwait Society for the Handicapped, Al-Kharafi Center, Foster Care Center, Elderly Care Center. 140 students volunteered in the program for the year 2008. Therefore it was decided that doors for volunteering remain open throughout this year because of the growing demand from students. The program is directed at the younger age group (15-24) years.

TES Winter Wonderland Bazaar with the Best Santa Photo Moment

Santa Claus is coming to town woohoo!

This year The English School will have their annual seasonal bazaar on 11th December from 2PM-5PM at The English School, Mousaed Al-Azmi Street, Block 12, Salmiya. Tel: +965 25637205/6/7.  Map [link]
Bouncy castle, lots of games and prizes for the kids, baked goodies for sale, over 40 stalls selling handicrafts, holiday gifts and accessories.
The very best Santa photo opportunity in all of Kuwait.
Entrance fee adults KD1, kids are free.

Review
As usual a fab event for the kids. Larger than last year and lots for the kids to do. Nice touch having Starbucks for the parents of course ;O) The Santa photo op was brilliant, the letter to Santa area with post box was a great hit and my daughter loves to go and choose a gift for us in Santa's grotto, to sum it up a great day for the kids. I'm sure they raised a lot of money for charity. WTG TES!

Ooops! Kuwait Times Prints a Retraction Regarding DSLR Camera Ban

RETRACTION [link]
On Saturday, November 20, 2010 the Kuwait Times published an article titled 'Multi ministry camera ban frustrates artists' in which incorrect information was provided. The newspaper regrets failing to verify the information. The article wrongly stated that a ban on DSLR cameras was implemented by the Ministries of Information, Social Affairs and Finance. This information is false. In a follow up investigation, it was proved that no such ban has been issued. We regret this error and deeply apologize for any inconvenience caused.

LWDLIK- After a lot of bad publicity for Kuwait..

AWARE holds Date and Dishdasha Night

KUWAIT: The AWARE Center recently held a 'Date and Dishdasha' night as part of its monthly social and cultural activities, with guests dressing in traditional Kuwaiti outfits and indulging their taste buds with tantalizingly sweet dates and Arabic coffee.
One guest, Jeffrey DeVaney, an educator from the US State of Minnesota where winter temperatures regularly fall to minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit, said: "After retirement, I felt I still have some mileage to give, so I went to an international job fair in Boston, Massachusetts and here I am in Kuwait; the last place I thought I would be.
Happy and looking surprisingly relaxed in dishdasha, DeVaney said "I'm enjoying every moment of being in Kuwait, mostly because of the warmth of the people." He explained, "We found out about the center through an orientation program when we arrived. My first encounter with a dishdasha took place at the academy before the Eid holiday. It's comfortable, so I decided I was going to do it, so I went to Mubarakiyah market and got one.
Now in his forth month in Kuwait, DeVaney is Elementary Principal at the Boys' Campus at the American Creativity Academy here. "When the boys saw me in the dishdasha for the first time, we felt an emotional link; I certainly felt that I belonged. It's a beautiful country with a great people, kind and warm. Kindness of the heart is a universal thing and this is one of the main reasons I took the job, given all the misconception in American society of the Middle East.
'Dishdasha,' the standard Arabic word for 'garment,' is the traditional Arab garb for men, while the abaya is the long overgarment, essentially a cloak-like dress, worn by women. Wearing a fashionable abaya, Wendie Anderson, the Elementary Principal of the Girls Campus at the academy, told KUNA she was a little 'skeptical' about coming to Kuwait initially, "but the kindness of the people changed my mind."
The Advocate for Westerners-Arab Relations (AWARE) center is a non-profit, non-governmental, and non-political organization working to promote positive, constructive relations between Westerners and Arabs by organizing social activities and information services related to Arab and Islamic cultures. Inaugurated in October 2003, the center is dedicated to become the cultural gateway for westerners to explore Arab/Islamic culture and civilization by facilitating social encounters, educational activities, dialogue, cultural exchange and intercultural friendship.

LWDLIK- I love that people want to experience the culture at AWARE. Although I once saw a Korean businessman in full Kuwaiti attire in a hotel lobby and I desperately wanted to take a pic of the look on the face of the real Kuwaiti who was meeting him. Doesn't always work the other way around; I remember a Kuwaiti who'd dressed in a kilt and played the bagpipes one year at the Queen's Birthday Party celebrations in the British Embassy- he got arrested on his way home and charged with wearing ladies clothing :O) Unfortunate name for the celebrations didn't help his case.

Happy Thanksgiving All

LWDLIK- It's not such a great day for the turkey ;O)

Warning! Do Not Eat All The Artichoke..

Courtesy of http://www.guardian.co.uk/

The Esoteric Artichoke
A diner who needed medical attention after consuming an entire globe artichoke is suing the restaurant that served it. How much guidance do we want or need from waiters?


Do you know what to do with one of these?

The latest tale of perilous dining comes not from dicing with unidentified wild mushrooms or fugu, but from a grilled vegetable.
A doctor in Miami is suing a restaurant for failing in its "duty to explain the proper method of consuming an artichoke". Arturo Carvajal was admitted to hospital with "severe abdominal pain and discomfort" after eating one in its entirety - leaves, choke and all - where it was discovered that he had artichoke leaves lodged in his small intestine. Carvajal said he'd never seen or heard of the dish and complains that his waiter did not tell him that the outside portion of the leaf is indigestible.
Presumably Carvajal was inspired to act by the success of Stella Liebeck, now known as "the poster child of excessive lawsuits". The then 79-year-old from Albuquerque successfully sued McDonald's after tipping a cup of coffee into her lap, causing herself third degree burns and a stretch in the infirmary back in 1992.
These stories raise difficult questions for the service industry. People, more than ever, consider restaurants a destination for a night out, no longer a stop on the way somewhere else, and chefs have become celebrities. The perceived glamour of, as Marina O'Loughlin puts it so well, fayn dayning, means every embryonic Gordon feels the need to season their food with hyperbole and periphrasis. It sometimes seems like we're getting into a situation where restaurant staff feel the need to talk us through every mouthful.
Knowing where the boundary between helpfulness and over-familiarity lies can be tricky indeed. There are times when high end restaurants seem to have a Mr Shake Hands Man game going on with their customers, as if the staff are competing over who can describe a bowl of soup in the most circuitous manner. It can be irritating. Following an incident where she was tutored in the petits fours at a restaurant – not just the contents of the sweets, but the order in which to eat them, too - Rebecca Seal points out, "When I'm at a restaurant I want to be able to talk to my dining companion, not have the food picked apart for me."
The practice seems to be spreading to cafes. Yesterday I visited a cafe where the nice man who brought our drinks insisted that we pour it and let it sit for "30 seconds to a minute" before drinking. We would then, he said, be able to taste strawberries and all sorts of other delights. It was a step too far.
Certainly there are some dishes that can cause embarrassment for the uninitiated diner. Being unaware of the pulling, dipping, biting technique that is required to eat an artichoke can clearly pose problems. Attacking a whole bird – a poussin, say – can be traumatic for the timid eater, with a real possibility of the thing landing in someone's lap. Sometimes help is welcome.
It's altogether more nerve racking when your food arrives with satellites of velouté, foaming teacups, various surgical instruments and an iPod. Surely then the waiter can be expected to offer some guidance? Direction at the Fat Duck is pretty essential, says photographer Steven Joyce. "Most of it doesn't look like food you'd recognise, so you need help."
For Heston's punters the unfamiliarity arises because even the palate cleansers come with clouds of lime-scented smoke. For Arturo Carvajal it was an artichoke. The need for elucidation comes down to the individual diner. A representative of the restaurant chain Carvajal's suing said that while he felt bad Carvajal went to hospital, "It's just kind of a silly notion ... What's next? Are we going to have to post warnings on our menu they shouldn't eat the bones in our barbecue ribs?"

LWDLIK- I can not believe someone actually ate the whole artichoke...Wouldn't you after the first inedible leaf just give up or enquire how to eat it? LOL..

World Diabetes Day- An invitation to a fun, educational afternoon.

Thursday, November 25th from 4:00-9:00PM

Location: Dasman Diabetes Institute next to the British Embassy.

How much do you know about diabetes? Did you know that Kuwait has one of the highest rates of diabetics in the world?


A jam packed event of educational entertainment including:
• A cooking class by celebrity Kuwaiti chef Adlah Al-Sharhan who will show us how to make healthy machboos.
• Personalised nutrition consultations by in-house doctors and our nutrition team.
• In-house doctors and nurses performing free medical screenings and health stats.
• Interactive gallery at Dasman Diabetes Institute’s main hall where you can learn, feel and explore modern ways of healthy living.
• Outdoor performances by traditional Kuwaiti musical band and Takht Sharqi.
• A special performance by Electrik Crew, a local Kuwaiti urban dance group.

For Kids:
o Wii tournaments
o Fas9la fitness fun
o Face painting
o Nutrition knock-outs
o Magic show
o Balloon art
*Snacks and refreshments included.
We are excited to involve Fit, Football, The Nut Tree, Fit4Fun, Pilates and More.
The purpose of this event is to promote awareness, education and prevention of diabetes. We extend our circle to you and your families!

Why Mobile Phone Use is Banned in Petrol Stations

Carmen by Georges Bizet at Radisson Blu

First time in Kuwait - Location Al Hashemi II Grand Ballroom at Radisson Blu Hotel on Saturday, 11th December at 8-11PM. Kuwait Chamber Philharmonia in partnership with Radisson Blu hotel will stage Carmen by Georges Bizet for the first time in Kuwait. Tickets at KD 16 are available at Radisson Blu Hotel and Virgin Megastore.

LWDLIK- Oh no! I shall be humming the one and only song I know all day now..

Lanvin for H&M at Avenues Mall, Kuwait Tomorrow 10AM

LWDLIK- Sold out in just about every country in the world. Stampedes and a stabbing in NYC during the  release on Saturday.
CRAZY what some people will do for a designer name...See you there :O)

'The GCC: Achievements, Ambitions and Challenges' Lecture and Dinner at AWARE Center

December 1st at 7 p.m. in the AWARE Center, Surra: 'The GCC: Achievements, Ambitions and Challenges' will be presented by Abdullah Yaccoub Bishara, President of The Diplomatic Center for Strategic Studies. R.S.V.P. Required. For Reservations, Please contact Tel: 2-5335280. Working Hours: Sunday to Thursday 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

Three More Houses Evacuated in Ahmadi

Damages by the gas can be seen on the interior walls of the houses affected. Also, oxygen is measured at 20 percent within one of the houses, indicating a high ratio of gas exposure.

Monday, 22 November, 2010 .

KUWAIT: The Ahmadi Fire Station received Sunday eight more reports of gas leakage cases in Block 1 of Ahmadi. Upon receiving the reports, firefighters, ambulances and police patrol cars rushed to the scene.
The discovery of the gas leakages resulted in a further evacuation of three homes, in fact the ratio of the gas reached 76 percent in one of the houses.
An elderly woman in her seventies experienced severe gas inhalation but survived when she transferred to a nearby hospital swiftly for treatment.
The inhabitants of the area continue to express their fears for their health and their children's health due to the continuous leakages.


LWDLIK- Doesn't sound good at all. I'm wondering if I may need to cancel 22 tickets for this year's panto at Kuwait Little Theatre? :O(
I believe these homes are over 50 years old I suppose it's inevitable that there will be leaks in the old piping underneath these homes. Very inconvenient for those that live there. Let's hope it's sorted quickly (like before 4th December :O)

Latest Update on Christmas Tree Lighting Event

From Moevenpick Hotel

We are delighted to invite you and your family to the yearly tree lighting event at the Moevenpick Hotel ‐ Free Trade Zone in Shuwaikh along with Baroue who is sponsoring this year. The giant Christmas tree is 12 metres high and will be beautifully decorated.The day starts off at 2:30 PM with fun activities for the children; face painting, cartoon characters, Baroue mascots, trampoline and a lot more. Moevenpick will be providing all the Christmas goodies for you to nibble on such as egg nog, gluehwein, minced pies and cookies.

Join us in this magical moment as we light up with thousands of tiny fairytale lights the real and biggest Christmas tree in Kuwait on Friday, 10th of December 2010 at exactly 4.30 PM. Santa Claus will celebrate and distribute gifts provided by Baroue and take pictures with your children on this exciting day.

Yes, I would like to come & be part of the Tree Lighting Event. The event is free of charge.

Name: ___________
Company: ________________________

Mobile: ______________________
Email: __________________________

No. of Adult/s: _____

No. of Children: _____

Email the completed form to marissa.braga@moevenpick.com or print and fax to 24610277.
For any enquiries about the event, please contact Marissa Braga at 24610033 ext 500.

LWDLIK- Copy, paste and fill details above and send to Marissa (email above) to give them an idea of numbers. C'mon it is free the least we can do is let them know how many mince pies to make. See you there :O) 

Review of event
Sparse looking parking lot with tall, not so well decorated tree (certainly not a beautifully decorated one as promised), a teeny bouncy castle, the tree lighting and Santa's arrival delayed by an hour and a half. No where to sit for anyone so we had to stand for 2 hrs and 30 mins.
The pluses were, regardless of the above, the kids seemed to have fun. The lights when switched on were quite cute and Santa's arrival in a sleigh on the roof and being pulled around the car park by a Shetland pony was well received by the kids (and parents because it signalled going home time). The gifts for the kids were a nice touch except my daughter got a remote control car which probably ment a boy somewhere got a doll.
As we are so starved of such Xmas events like this I want to sound encouraging rather than overly critical and say that the event could have great potential if they got more vendors in, had some kids activities, seats, no delays, better choice of Christmas carols (maybe some live carol singers). Thank you to the organisers please pass by the TES winter wonderland bazaar for tips for next year.

Close Up on Kuwait 1962

The oil industry in the Arab country of Kuwait, Middle East. Film made in 1962, directed by Rodney Giesler.


A young Kuwaiti man visits a typical idyllic English village. The village is Shere in Surrey. Shots of old timber framed houses. He speaks to camera. Another man outside the rear entrance of the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank. Another Kuwaiti man talks seated at an outdoor café in London. They both speak to camera.
Film then switches to Kuwait. Point of view from car of busy Kuwait streets. Construction site and builders. The desert. Gas or oil terminal. Oil tankers. Docks. Arab man with head dress rides in the back of a lorry. Travelling shot of crowded street with American cars. Arab businessman in his office, talks on telephone. Various shops, selling electrical goods, chairs. Shopper plays an accordion. Some stylish modernist buildings. Two men drink from cola bottles. Large American car with fins pulls out and nearly crashes with another (seen from the rear). The ruler of Kuwait at a military parade. Various scenes of doctors, dentists, opticians at work. Small children rushing into school, mainly local but some white children as well. Bottle delivery man helps two schoolboys climb a wall. Children have lessons. School meal. Bakery. Deaf children have lessons at a special school. Little girl learns to speak. Young man writes with a special Braille typewriter. He also reads Braille. The airport, foreign skilled workers arrive, get off Kuwaiti Airlines aircraft. Oil well. Christian church for westerners. Woman in horn rimmed spectacles sits under a hair dryer. Lives of foreigners. Locals learn skills from foreign workers. Pilot lesson. University scenes with students. Oil industry. Arab men have discussion in a boardroom. Cars drive through a sandstorm. Natural gas. Fresh water plant and delivery lorries being loaded. Delivery to Bedouins. Government experimental farm on land reclaimed from desert. Growing crops, dairy cows. Mosque, man calls to prayer. Grievance settling - men meet with the ruler in an office. Law court. Aerial view of Kuwait city and docks. Busy street scenes. Shots of various people walking in the street. Children play in a school playground.

LWDLIK- Quite fascinating..

'Rain Song' by Mohammed Al Shammarey at FA Gallery

Location: FA Gallery, Sharq, Gulf Road, next to Al Amiri Hospital from 28 November 7.30PM- 15 December 2010.
A solo exhibition for the Iraqi artist Mohammed Al Shammarey, born in Baghdad in 1962. He has exhibited his work widely in galleries and museums throughout the Middle East, Europe and USA; he participated in group shows at the British Museum, Columbia University and the Station Museum of Contemporary Art in Houston, Texas. Lately he showed his recent work entitled 'Rain Song' in the Museum of Juniata College in Houston, where his work received a lot of welcome admiration due to its artistic, cultural originality.

The BLS Christmas Dinner on Monday 6th December

Yes ladies, it is that time of the year again! This year they are hosting their Christmas bazaar and dinner at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Farwaniya.
Join them at the bazaar from 1.30pm – 6.30pm for a bit of Christmas shopping!
Doors open for the dinner at 6.30pm. Here you can enjoy a lovely Christmas dinner, a bit of singing and of course we will have some fantastic prizes in our raffle!
Bookings for the dinner will open from Tuesday 2nd November. This is for full and associate members only. From Tuesday 16th November they will accept bookings from non members. The dinner is free for members. The price is 18KD for non members. This must be paid for in advance.
When you book please let us know:
- Full name and membership number
You can also book a table with 9 of your friends but please send all names and membership numbers to us at the time of booking. You can collect your ticket at all library mornings/evening and all coffee mornings starting Thursday 4th November. Please log on to the website for details.
Please note that in case of no-show or cancellation within 48 hours we will charge members 16KD, non members 18KD.

TONI&GUY Offering Free Racoon Extensions

TONI&GUY are looking for 4 females to help them with some Racoon training that they've got planned for first week of December each female will receive a full head of Racoon Extensions!

Call 2566 3286. Open from 10am to 7pm Mondays - Saturdays

Ballerines to Stage 'Saptam' Musical on Nov 26

Kuwait’s premier performer group ‘Ballerines’ is all set to stage its hallmark event 'Ballerine’s Showcase 2010,' to be held on Friday November 26 at the American International School at 6 pm.
Ballerine’s Showcase 2010, entitled 'Saptam' is the culmination of months of toil and dedication of various artists together with the organizers. This year too, as before, many performers will be performing for the first time on stage.
Saptam will be performed with over 70 local artistes. There will also be performances by guest artistes from the US and India.
The event will be sponsored by Almarai, Dr Sneh Lata Goel, KTS, Al Yasra, Helen Pinto, Gulf Bank, Al Sayer Group and Morad Yusuf Behbehani.
There are only limited number of tickets available. For bookings, contact 66357915.

Judge Orders Cops to Stop Harassing Superheroes

You’d think Wolverine, Batman, Superman, Catwoman and Iron Man would collectively hold enough superpower to keep the cops at bay.
But with the Hall of Justice unavailable, a group of street performers nicknamed the Hollywood Characters aired their beef against the Los Angeles Police Department in federal court. And on Wednesday, a judge ordered the LAPD to stop harassing and arresting them as they perform on Hollywood Boulevard for pocket change.
The four street performers who sued had argued they were wrongly arrested and intimidated by the LAPD. U.S. District Judge Dean Pregerson ruled that the characters had a First Amendment and Fourth Amendment right to remain on the public sidewalk free from police persecution as long as they were not blocking the walkway or overzealously demanding change.
“The court is further sensitive that although costumed performance may not be a traditional form of speech, it is without doubt a protected one,” Pregerson ruled.
The suing street performers -– Matthias Balke, Melissa Beithan, Paul Harrell and Terrell Tomey — impersonate the comic-book characters’ voices, mannerisms and dialog.
They each alleged they were wrongly arrested  at least once for “obstructing” a sidewalk. According to their lawsuit, they had stopped performing out of fear of arrest or police harassment.

LWDLIK- Love this! Some sanity in an insane world LOL..

Lebanon No. 1 for Cosmetic Surgery

(CNN) -- While the search for inner beauty is this month drawing Muslims to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage, a different kind of search -- this time for beauty of a more obvious kind -- is drawing many from the Middle East to another location.
The traditional Eid holiday that marks the start of the Hajj is used by many in the region as an opportunity to travel abroad for plastic surgery. Their destination is usually Lebanon, a country whose obsession with physical perfection has transformed it into a very different kind of experience.
"We are very busy at this time of year we work like restaurants, when everyone is on vacation, we're working," Roger El Khoury, head surgeon at the Beirut Beauty Clinic, told CNN.
"Every holiday period is busy; people prefer to come here during their vacations, mainly for privacy or secrecy problems."

A Lebanese surgeon performs a plastic surgery procedure.

The Lebanese plastic surgery industry has flourished in recent years with surgically enhanced beauty becoming increasingly desirable among image-conscious locals. Lebanon's First National Bank even offers loans of up to $5,000 for cosmetic surgery.
With recent conflict troubles  notably the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militia -- seemingly behind it, the country is luring in more and more clients from further afield eager to take advantage of Lebanon's renowned medical experts, as well as its sandy beaches and snowy mountains.
El Khoury said his clinic has experienced a 25 percent increase in foreign patients over the past 12 months with clients arriving from other Arab countries in the Gulf and North Africa. There is also huge demand from Lebanese expatriates, he says.
"We don't have proper statistics, so it is impossible to tell accurately, but we estimate about 20 percent of our business is people from abroad," said Sami Saad, Lebanon's representative at the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Such is the demand that a travel company has even been set up to help so-called medical tourists book their trip to Lebanon. Dubai-based Image Concept finds them the right accommodation and most importantly, the medics to perform the desired procedures.
"We're able to make their reservations, give them right addresses and hook them up with the right doctors, because we have access and a priority with many of the doctors and hospitals," said Zeina El Haj, Image Concept's founder.
El Haj said she launched her company in June 2009 with the blessing of Lebanon's tourism authorities who "loved the concept" of marketing the country's cosmetic surgery industry. Since then, she told CNN, business has boomed.
"Lebanon has doctors with a worldwide reputation. When patients approach us they often ask for a doctor they have in mind. They've already done their research.
"It also helps that a lot of Lebanese ladies have had (cosmetic surgery). They are ambassadors for this kind of trend," she added.
El Haj said her clients mainly come from the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but there are also requests from Europe, the United States and even New Zealand.
"Demand has definitely been increasing. People want to look like the stars they admire -- they want the nose, or the cheeks, or the teeth of certain celebrities. They want to look good."
According to El Khoury the procedure most requested by foreign clients is rhinoplasty  nose jobs  of which he completes about 200 per year. He says Lebanon's appeal for would-be patients is the affordability of its surgeons and its convenient location.
Added Saad, although Lebanon welcomed the surge in cosmetic surgery tourists, it must also warn them to be wary of unqualified surgeons trading on the country's reputation.
He advised patients to ensure any medical procedures were performed by specialists registered with the Lebanese Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (LSPRAS), an internationally-endorsed body set up to regulate the industry.
"The society knows there are lots of people who come back to Lebanon with papers saying they've done work with certain plastic surgeons, but it doesn't mean anything if they haven't had any hands-on experience or worked officially in the operation room."
Saad said LSPRAS offered surgeons a highly-qualified peer group for them to fall back on in case of difficulty, but stressed that problems that resulted in legal action were few and far between.
"Litigation is not a very common thing here in Lebanon. It's a bit different from the United States -- there the result has a big importance in terms of litigation. In our part of the world, unless it's a major disaster due to neglect or poor experience, it's not a cause for lawsuits.

LWDLIK- Shame there's no number for Dr El Khoury mentioned ;O) I like the $5000 loan bit from the bank so you can get a nose job for $4000 and a new outfit to go with the new nose.. :OP

Ho, ho, ho! Family Seasonal Concert

Bring in the 2010 Festive Season with the Ahmadi Music Group Seasonal Concerts.
Friday 10 December, 5pm and 7.15pm, and Saturday 11 December, 5.30pm at the New English School, Jabriya. The afternoon concerts will be suitable for everyone including families with very small children and will feature a visit from the man in red. The evening concert will be aimed at a more adult audience. A yummy finger buffet after all performances. Contributions: KD 5 for adults, KD 3 for children and under fives go free.
MAP TO VENUE
If you would like to secure your invitations in advance to avoid disappointment send us an email invitations@ahmadimusicgroup.com text or call +96566184192

Bachata Dance Classes

Bachata is a form of music and dance that originated in the countryside and the rural neighborhoods of the Dominican Republic. Its subjects are often romantic; especially prevalent are tales of heartbreak and sadness. Most of the early compositions can be attributed to Rodobaldo Duartes (Cuba). Currently many artists sing derivations of the root compositions. The dance is a four-step beat achieved with a walking Cuban hip motion, and a unique “pop”. The dance is performed both in open position and in closed position depending on the setting and mood of the partners.

Saturday, November 20 · 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location British Institute Of Vocational Training (BIVT)
Block 3, Street 5, Building 3.
Salmiya, Kuwait
Tel. 25756110
They will have two classes on November 20th Saturday. At 6:00 pm is a class for the beginners and at 7:00pm a second session. If you were already in the classroom first week, you can only come to the second session. The classes are 5KD per an hour.

For more info on bachata dance classes their email address is kuwaitbachataclub@gmail.com. or see [link]

Nameste and thank you!

Wonderful trip to India. Snake charmers, Rajastani dancers, Hindi singers, elephant, trained monkeys, turban tying, henna painting, fortune telling parrot, local culture and music, good weather, great friends = awesome time. To our gracious hosts and family thank you for the most amazing time. May you always be blessed with love, happiness and good health.

Worthy Causes Requiring Volunteers in Kuwait

KAACH
Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH) is a non-governmental charitable organization registered with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour in 2003. It is managed by volunteers and funded by donations from organizations, businesses, banks, schools and individuals within Kuwait.
Address: AL-AMIRI HOSPITAL, BASEMENT 1, MEDICAL RESIDENCE.
http://www.kacch.org/

Abeer 2
The center aims at serving youth and children with special needs, provide help for their families, and participate in guiding the child’s parents by introducing them to the correct methods in dealing with their children. It, also, encourages volunteers to participate and share the suffering families their thoughts; as well as train and prepare the volunteers for such mission.
Address: SOUTH SURRA, AL ZAHRA’A BLOCK 6 ST# 43 HOUSE 2.
http://www.arabic.abeer2.com/ or http://www.english.abeer2.com/

Kuwait Red Crescent
The Kuwait Red Crescent Society is a voluntary humanitarian society providing help and assistance to the most vulnerable people without any discrimination as to nationalities, gender, color race or religious and political beliefs.
Address: SHUWAIKH, AL-JAHRA’A STREET, NEXT TO KUNA.
http://www.krcs.net/

Down Syndrome Center
The main aim of the Down Syndrome Center is to provide medical, psychological, social and cultural services for individuals with Down syndrome. It also strives to qualify them towards being effective members of their society.
Address: AL-KHALDIYA , BLOCK # 4, STREET 41. Behind Al-Sayed Omar Nursery.

Kuwait Society for the Handicapped
The society is a charity society of morale identity founded in May 1971, its most important goals are providing social psychological and health care for handicapped children.
Address: HAWALLI, AL-QAHIRA ST, BEHIND INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS STUDIES FOR BOYS.
http://www.kshkw.com/

Al Kharafi Center
The center provides an ideal and safe environment for the children with disabilities. Where it gives its best service all year round in a joyfull atmosphere.
Address: DAHIYAT MOBARAK AL-ABDULLA AL – JABER, NEXT TO EXHIBITION HALL IN MISHREF.
http://www.kharafi-akc.org.kw/

Kuwait Center for Autism
In 1994, there was the first germ to establish Kuwait Center for Autism and developed to be the first Autism Training and Educational Center in the Arab World; as well as to respond to the needs of many families as a specialized center for serving autistic children.
Address: DHAIYA MUBARAK ABDULLA - Block 6 - st 3
http://www.q8autism.com/

Foster Care Center
The center is dedicated to providing shelter to orphans, children in crisis or those who were neglected by their parents. It nurtures children with love in a healthy family environment and provides activities that help them build a sense of self- reliance.
Address: UNITED NATION ROUNDABOUT - SULAIBIKAT - HOME CARE COMPLEX
[link for map]

Elderly Care Center
The center aims at catering the various needs of the elders, whether through providing shelter or medical, social, psychological and entertainment services.
Address: UNITED NATION ROUNDABOUT - SULAIBIKAT - HOME CARE COMPLEX - ELDERLY CENTER.
[link for map]

LWDLIK- I know there are lots of kind-hearted souls out there.. Thanks http://www.loyac.org/ for encouraging the youth of Kuwait to volunteer.

Boucheron Collection Showcasing at Octium, 360 Mall - In Honor of Octium's 1st Anniversary

Tuesday, November 30 from 10:00AM - December 7 until 10:00PM at Octium Jewelry Boutique, 360 Mall.
Boucheron, Paris will be showcasing their whimsical jewelry collection at the Octium Jewelry boutique, 360 Mall for one week in honor of Octium's one year anniversary celebration. The Boucheron collection includes fabulous and intricately designed pieces trademarking their explicit craftsmanship.

LWDLIK- LOVES this store, the savvy couple who own it really have their fingers on the Kohinoor pulse of jewelry designers.

Eid Mubarak to All

Eid Al-Adha 'Festival of Sacrifice' is a religious holiday to commemorate Ibraham's (AKA Abrahim in the other two good books) willingness to sacrifice his son as requested by God, before God intervened to provide him with a ram to sacrifice instead. The meat is divided into 3 equal parts. The family retains 1/3 of the share, 1/3 for relatives, friends and neighbors and the other third is given to the poor & needy.

At 360 Mall
16th-19th November starting at 6:30 pm there will be an aerial acrobatic performance- magician- juggler- stilt walkers- roller skater- caricature artist and live music in the gardens...
Event sponsored by Zain.

Happy To Be Alive :0)

The Manor Delhi

Just about to land in Delhi, we could see the runway when suddenly aircraft pulled up sharply and ascended, there was a huge noise coming from the engines as he, the pilot, used full power to go up again. Seems there was an aircraft still on the runway where were told to land. Nothing like a near-death experience to make you happy to be alive :0)

Had Nameste Air Services and holidays providing us a lovely meet & greet at airport and a driver during our stay www.namasteairportservices.com they took great care of us, thank you Ajay and Arpna.

The Manor hotel was lovley located in a quiet residential area www.themanordelhi.com. We thoroughly enjoyed the dinner, ambiance and TLC. The exceptional service from Jagdeep (driver) and Shamser Singh Gill was much appreciated.

Very long drive to the resort where the renewal of wedding vows is to take place. We would have been better off in a tractor, the roads here are quite awful. 

Yes, India can be frustrating, dirty and baffling. But the lovely people are unique; kind, humble, calm, serene and eager to please. Hope they bottle whatever the secret is and sell it to the rest of the world.

More trip details later.

The Lighting of the Christmas Tree at Movenpick Hotel, Free Trade Zone, Kuwait

From Movenpick Hotel, Free Trade Zone, Kuwait- would like to invite you and your family to our forth Christmas tree lighting event on 10th December at 2.30PM (update from Michelle at Movenpick) tree lighting at 4.30PM. The giant Christmas tree is more than 12 meters high and beautifully decorated by our own team. This year they have added a special touch to the event, Santa Claus will surprise you with his entrance, and you would not want to miss it....
Be there to join them in this magical moment as they light up with thousands of tiny fairytale lights on the biggest Christmas tree in Kuwait in front of the hotel.
Santa Claus will be waiting for you to take pictures with him and he will be distributing gifts to all the children who will be coming.
Tel. 24610033

LWDLIK- The above tree is not the one you will see. Anyone know where the above Christmas tree in pic is? Have just spoken to Movenpick to confirm date for this year and it's still to be confirmed. Will keep you posted. It's the 10th December at 2.30PM onwards, tree lighting at 4.30PM.

EK 514 to Dubai and then Delhi here we come :0)

Off to Delhi for a Bolly good time :0)

Just Like Us Comedy Show

Location : Gulf University of Science Technology, Block 5, Building 1, Mubarak Al-Abdullah Area/West Mishref.

Date and time: Wednesday, 10th November, 2010 at 8PM


Ahmed Ahmed is touring once again with a different line-up. He is promoting and celebrating the release of his movie 'Just Like Us' which has premiered in many film festivals one of them being the Tribeca Film Festival.

For more information please contact them on 2572 0578 or 9999 1008.

LWDLIK- Very welcome.. the world needs to laugh more.

Westwood Heritage Jewellery Collection

[link]

Just in time for Xmas :O)

Beat Diabetes- Join the Walk

Landmark Group, Kuwait will conduct it's first ever Walkathon supported by the Ministry of Health & Dasman Diabetes Institute which is a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) inititative aiming to further spread awareness about Diabetes and its causes amongst the wider community.
Listed below are details for the Walakthon:
Registration for the 'Beat Diabetes' Walkathon will commence on the 06th
of November at Landmark Group outlets (Centrepoint, Home Centre, MAX & New Look stores) and will end on the 26th of November, 2010.
- Registration is free and one can register at the venue on the event day
as well.
- Upon registration; participants will receive three counterfoils: 01. Registration no., 02. Raffle draw no., 03. Kit collection no.
Please note that all three counterfoils will have to be carried with the participant on the day of the Walk.
- On the day of the Walk; kit collection (T-shirt, cap and wrist band) begins at 0730hrs and the Walk commences at 0900hrs.
- Free blood glucose testing would be conducted on November 24 & 25, 2010 at all 7 Centrepoint outlets, Home Centre Shuwaikh, MAX Hawally(Al Bahar Center), MAX (The Avenues) and New Look (The Avenues) and on the day of the Walk at the venue as well.
Your participation counts...do come join us in the Walk!

A Clarinet Concert at Movenpick Bida'a

Internationally acclaimed Romanian clarinetist Iulian Rusu will be in concert at Movenpick Al Bida'a Balloom on Thursday 25th November from 7PM-9.30PM. Tickets are KD9 including canapes and drinks.

Cinemagic movies at your own home, garden, rooftop or poolside

Now for a limited time only Cinemagic is providing you with a great offer!
After a long wait and at an extremely discounted price, you can now enjoy the outdoor screening facility at the venue of your choice. In your garden, next to a pool, in the desert with friends and family or even at your very own rooftop!
Choose any film from our library; bring your own or let it become an arcade fiesta for the children with play-station or Nintendo Wii.
Live the life of Ultra High Definition & Surround Sound with Cinemagic outdoor screening services.
The demand is high, and we are getting reservations everyday, contact us now to reserve your day:
marketing@cinemagics.com
rami@cinemagics.com
or call now +965 66966685, +965 25720945
Let the fun be yours!
More details and pics [link]

From Micheal Habre at Cinemagic.

LWDLIK-Loves this idea very much and will be calling them just as soon as I get back from my trip.

Islamic Fundamentalists Preventing the Construction of a New Church in Kuwait?

Kuwait City (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The government and the emir have approved the building of a new church but the Kuwait City Municipal Council refuses to issue building permits or explain its reasons for doing so. About 460,000 Christians share four official churches, two Catholic, one Evangelical and one Anglican. A Coptic church is under construction.
A group of Christians have complained that Kuwait City’s Municipal Council is preventing them from getting land to build a church. "The Municipal Council is the big problem preventing us from getting land; not all of the members, just the Islamic fundamentalists," said Archimandrite Boutros Gharib, head of the local Greek Catholic Church.
Recently the municipal council blocked an attempt by the Greek Catholic Church to acquire land in Mahboula, an area in the Ahmadi governorate south of Kuwait City. The request has been pending for several years.
A new church would reduce over-crowdedness in a villa currently used for worshiping, Fr Gharib said.
According to the Greek Catholic clergyman, both the government and the country’s leader, Emir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, have given their approval and blessing to the Church to have its property built. However, the Council has not followed suit. What is more, “The council did not give us any reason,” he added.
“We found the higher levels of government say yes and the lower levels of government say no,” said Rev Andrew Thompson, the Anglican chaplain to Kuwait, who stressed that religious fundamentalists controlled the municipality.
The church said the government had proposed an area of 7,500 m2 with land for buildings and parking.
Greek Catholic Church board member Elian Farah said the government suggested parishioners use the parking facilities of two schools under construction nearby on the weekends and the evenings in addition to their dedicated parking area.
Fr Gharib noted that his church is paying US$ 6,944 a month for a villa that is also shared by two other congregations. If they did not find land soon, the church would have to close, he said. "It's all excuses. It's all lies," he said. "Every time they promise, but all their promises are for nothing."
The one success the Christian community has had in the past 40 years came when Egyptian Copts secured land for their church, but even they have had trouble getting a building permit.
The Greek Catholic community in Kuwait includes about 650 families, and they are not the only Christian group struggling to find space to worship in the country.
Around 460,000 Christians have to share four official churches—two Catholic, an Evangelical and an Anglican—plus the Coptic church under construction.

LWDLIK- I did hear also that at least one councillor (who is not an Islamic fundamentalist) was against government trying to push this through too quickly without  proper municipality procedures being implemented. Either way a new church would be welcome to those wanting to attend church. Bringing people here to work and not allowing them a place of worship is just wrong.

'Behind the Screen - Etchings on Copper' by Mahmoud El Maghraby at FA Gallery

Solo Exhibition for the Egyptian Artist Mahmoud El Maghraby starts 7th November.









 
 
 
 
 

FA Gallery is next to Amiri Hospital, Gulf road. Call 22498999 for more details.

A Finnish Puppet Theatre visiting Kuwait

A Finnish Puppet Theatre will be visiting Kuwait at the end of November. Shows will be on November 25, 26 and 27 at Radisson Blu hotel. Tickets are available now. They cost 6KD per person and can be purchased at the Radisson Blu Health Club tel: 2567 3888 mobile: 6571 8000. The show duration is 45 minutes.

“Winter Story From The Land Of Northern Lights” by a Finnish Puppet Theater.
This performance tells a story of a girl and a reindeer who were both born on the night of the shooting star. This story is about friendship and courage. The performance is mostly without words and accompanied by beautiful music. To find out what happened to the girl and the reindeer, who they met and what they experienced, get your tickets now at Radisson Blu Hotel – Viking Club reception.


Thursday November 25 @ 5pm and 7pm
Friday November 26 @ 1pm
Saturday November 27 @ 3pm and 5pm


LWDLIK review- Was cute for the little ones, would have been much better if the first two rows of chairs had been removed and the little kids could have sat on the floor to see better. The kids at the back couldn't see and got fidgety and noisy. Also the backdrop could have been blacked out with paper as there was too much light. So Radisson, we appreciate the effort just needs tweaking and a little more thought for next time. Thanks.