Khiran Resort,Q8

Interested in a weekend break? At the end of a busy week it’s time to forget work and concentrate on revitalizing the mind and body and what could be better than two or three days break with fantastic live entertainment, sports, leisure and fun? Be as active or relaxed as you wish, after all it’s your time, your choice. And for such a fantastic and relaxing weekend, Khiran Resort will be a perfect choice. Located in Al-Khiran District, Al-Khiran Resort is about 120 kilometers away from Kuwait City. It is manage by TEC(Touristic Enterprises Company) a semi govt. set up. It has huge landscaping area with proper gardeners and you will no doubt enjoy the ambience.

Located on the seafront with the spectacular view of Arabian Gulf sea, it contains total 236 Chalets which comprises with Studio appartment ( 48 No’s), Normal and Royal chalets (148 No’s) and Villa( 40 No’s). All the chalets are fully luxurious and air conditioned which contains a living room, a dining room, a fully equipped kitchen with all the necessary utensils, a bathroom, telephone, a television with its VCR, a terrace and a garage for the car. Prices of chalets depends season wise (3 days/week end/one full week etc). For a Studio apartment  you will have to pay 40 -60 kd/day; Normal & royal chalet will cost you 80 -150 kd/day and will cost Villa  200kd/day. As the prices will vary time to time , you can contact Mr.Khalid - front office manager Khiran Resort @99132563. You can form a group of two-three families and plan your weekend break at the resort. Then you can enjoy more and also share the price of the chalet.

During your stay you can enjoy in the Indoor game centre with video games, bowling alley, snookers etc. And you need not worry about food, as luxurious restaurants are available inside the resort. The three Restaurants are Sea Club (multicuisine), Al Baraha (barbeque/lebanese/arabic food) and Al Bandar(sea food restaurant) will fulfill your appetite. You can unwind yourself in the two swimming pools of the resort; one filled with salty water, and the other with fresh water. If you want to play sports, tennis, football, volleyball and basketball courts are available. There is a Marina, where around 250 boats can be parked in ABCDE berth and also more than 300 boat park facility on ground. Also, the "Duza" ballroom is available.

During the HALA FEBRUARY, celebration inside  Khiran Resort with "special fireworks" is the main event every year. More than 600 staffs of different nationality work inside the Resort and their accommodations are also provided inside the Resort. Ministry Clinic with 24 hour doctor facility and ambulance is provided. So you need not worry if you fall sick (hope it never happens). Small super market is available inside the Resort and Shrimpy Restaurant is also available inside the game center. Golf cars are available for staff use and in special occasion Golf car will be provided for Guest in coordination with front office. The security department has huge role to protect the Resort with special force.

And don’t forget to carry your kid’s bicycles. In case you forget there is facility for various types of cycles on rent. Also you can enjoy horse carriage rides. And if you ever had the desire of smoking the sheesha, then you can fulfill it at the Sheesha parlour of the resort which has lot of flavors to offer its visitors. Far away from the hustle and bustle of the city; far from fully busy working week, this place will give you the right opportunity to unwind yourself and start your coming week with double zeal and passion.

Contact No:223951122
For more information on the resort, you can check their official website http://www.khiranresort.com/
And can check out the facebook group
http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/khiran-resort-kuwait/136844022994226
Here’s the link to google map

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Equestrian Clubs,Kuwait

Horse racing has long been considered one of the most stimulating and racy spectator sports and for centuries, horses have been an intrinsic part of Arabian heritage. Horse racing provides the ideal environment for the entire family and Kuwait Finance House is striving to revive enthusiasm for the horse racing culture in Kuwait. Horse riding is a popular sport amongst the Kuwaitis and the country has its fair share of riding clubs.
If you are an equestrian or interested in learning horse riding or interested to see a horse race, then you can visit any equestrian club.

Kuwait Riding Center was established in February 1996 with 20 riders and 21 horses. It moved to its current location off 6th ring road in April 2001 and now has over 350 riders, 31 school horses and 42 private horses. The riding hub is quite well known in Kuwait for its experienced instructors, skilled grooms, excellent horses, and first-rate facilities. Located off the 6th Ring Road in Safat area, the school offers weekly lessons, from Saturday to Thursday, to riders aging 6 years and above and provides all kinds of training from beginners walk to advanced level including clearing the hurdles & show-jumping. The highly trained and qualified instructors of the school offer their valuable inputs and help the riders learn at their own pace. An accomplished equestrian can become a member of the prestigious team of the Kuwait Riding Center, which has won many laurels in local, national, and international competitions.

KRC, as the center is better known in Kuwait, also operates a well-stocked tack shop in order that all riders can obtain the correct clothing, as well as gifts for children and treats for horses. For parents and friends accompanying the pupils, the school has a small area where they can enjoy coffee and snacks while the lessons are taking place. Or you might just like to sit and relax in KRC’s lively, interesting and attractive grounds.

You can check their website for more information
http://www.kuwaitridingcenter.com/.
Contact address of KRC is
Tel.: (965) 2475-1551 / 2 / 3
Fax: (965) 475-1554
Email: krc@alazraq.com
For the location map, check this out ( http://www.kuwaitridingcenter.com/en/about-us/location/ and also http://wikimapia.org/#lat=29.2498605&lon=48.011713&z=16&l=0&m=b&search=Kuwait%20Riding%20Center%20 )

Messilah Equestrian Club, established in October 2004, owned by Mr. Bader Mohamed Al Mailam, is one of the most prestigious equestrian

clubs in the country. The club is the heart of equestrian activity amongst residents in Kuwait and regional riders who are looking for something different from any other club. It is renowned for the excellent jockeys, grooms, service staff, and unique facilities extended to both, the members and the guests. The air conditioned stables, the international standard exercise arena for horses, the illuminated riding and lunge arenas, the huge grand stand for spectators, judge’s box, horse walker, riding and show jumping dressage grounds are all of exceptional quality and deemed to be one of the best in the country. The club offers daily lessons from beginners level to show jumping, all based on individual needs and skills. It also tenders recreational riding activities for those not affiliated. Summer camps, both, in Kuwait and abroad, are conducted for competitive equestrian training. The club also organizes field trips for schoolchildren, comprising of a guided tour of the stables. Further, Messilah Equestrian Club extends a plethora of services in the form of the availability of horses and ponies (for both, sale and riding lessons), stable boarding, and in house cafeteria. The tack shop at the club offers branded equestrian merchandise for riders as well as horses.

Follow the 6th Ring Road from Messilah towards Jahra. Turn right up onto the bridge Exit 401, into Sabhan. At the roundabout go straight and follow the Messilah Equestrian Club signs. It’s in the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate. For the location map, check this out (http://wikimapia.org/5844925/Messilah-Equestrian-Club)

Below is their website http://www.almailamgroup.com/messila/

Another place is the Hunting and Equestrian Club. Established in the 1960s, it occupies a total area of 1,270,000 square meters. The club is located at the Sixth Ring Road, next to Sahara Kuwait Resort which has a stunning 18-hole golf course. The club is prepared with riding and race tracks. You'll also find tennis and squash courts here, bowling alleys, a snooker and billiards hall, a basketball court, a banquet hall, a meeting room and a four kilometer long jogging track. It also has a nice a restaurant. For more information you can contact 24717271.

For location map check this link ( http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=l&geocode=&near=kuwait&ie=UTF8&t=h&source=embed&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=118340551486352945887.00044cf54d9d6a3ff85c4
)
So, whenever you are looking for some fun at the racing grounds, you may just follow the road to the club!
For more information on horse racing in Kuwait you can check the following websites

http://www.baitalarab-kw.com/

http://www.ifahr.net/arabian-horse-racing-results.php?ld=26
http://www.directoryoftheturf.com/

DIWALI @ Q8

This is perhaps the most well-known of the Indian festivals. It is celebrated throughout India, as well as in Indian communities throughout the diaspora. It usually takes place eighteen days after Dusshera. It is colloquially known as the "festival of lights", for the common practice is to light small oil lamps (called diyas) and place them around the home, in courtyards, verandahs, and gardens, as well as on roof-tops and outer walls. In urban areas, especially, candles are substituted for diyas; and among the nouveau riche, neon lights are made to substitute for candles. The celebration of the festival is invariably accompanied by the exchange of sweets and the explosion of fireworks. As with other Indian festivals, Diwali signifies many different things to people across the country. In north India, Diwali celebrates Rama's homecoming, that is his return to Ayodhya after the defeat of Ravana and his coronation as king; in Gujarat, the festival honors Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth; and in Bengal, it is associated with the goddess Kali. Everywhere, it signifies the renewal of life, and accordingly it is common to wear new clothes on the day of the festival; similarly, it heralds the approach of winter and the beginning of the sowing season.

It is the Hindu New Year and is either a 3-day or 5-day holiday depending on where you come from. It is a very exciting and colourful holiday. Homes are cleaned to welcome the New Year and windows are opened so that the Hindu goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, can enter. It is believed that she cannot enter a house which is not lit up, so every household burns special Diwali clay lamps (diyas) to light the way for the goddess.
Children have a holiday from school. Presents are given and delicious holiday food is prepared and exchanged. New clothes and jewellery are worn. Parties are held, and dice and card games are played. Fireworks and firecrackers are set off to warn off evil spirits, so it is a noisy holiday too!

The last day of the holiday is a special day for brothers and sisters called Bhaiya-Dooj. Brothers give special presents to their sisters, who cook for them and look after them.

This year Diwali was celebrated on November 5.

Indian community in Kuwait on Friday celebrated the festival of lights Diwali with fervor and gaiety amid bursting of crackers and lighting of lamps. Since it was weekend, people could enjoy and celebrate. People decorated their homes with traditional lamps and lights to celebrate the festival. Areas like Farwaniya, Salmiya and Abbasiya where Indians are living in majority, people gathered in large group, clad in new attire and distributed sweets among their community members and friends and busted crackers. Fireworks were also witnessed in different places in Kuwait. Indian people of a residential building  met and distributed sweets n busted crakers. They even had formal get-together/ dinner get-together at any restaurent.

One the first day, we were with our building friends and them went to Salmiya area. The mood of festivity was more vigorous, dynamic and energitic there then in Abu Halifa. We went to our dear friend Sonal's house where we found Vaishali and her family already there. Together we went to the famous Titanic building to enjoy the lights and crakers. We returend and enjoyed in a nearby open field. By that time another friend n floor mate Lata bhabi and her family arrived. We enjoyed a lot...had dinner at Sonal's house and returned. Sonal who stayed with us in our building and floor recently shifted to Salmiya area. Next day on 6 November had a get-together and dinner party at Kohinoor Hotel. Our building kids performed and all enjoyed a lot.

Here are some pictures of Diwali celebration at Kuwait. Most of us made Rongali's in front of our house.

Rangoli made by ME

Made by my next door neighbour Lata

Made by my friend Vaishali

Enjyng the nice weather,Q8

The weather is just perfect to plan any outdoor outing. Personally I feel mid Oct-Nov and again mid Feb-March-mid April  are the best months to enjoy Kuwait.....otherwise it's toooo hot or cold and windy.

Now-a-days it's difficult to find a place to park your car near any beach. Its full with people enjoying. 

Traditional Turns Trendy

Just like the old Dev Anand song, "Har fi kr ko dhuwe mein urata chala gaya ",who wouldn’t want to blow away their worries? But no, we aren’t endorsing cigarettes here. We are simply trying to let you know about a much cooler alternative. Hookahs! Yes, hookahs are back, and in a big way.

Haven’t you always been fascinated by this royal habit of blowing smoke? Haven’t you been mesmerised by its sound and by the way it’s consumed? If yes, then you’re in for a treat because hookahs are now considered an integral part of Indian-style dining. Restaurants which serve typical Indian fare have invariably added a Shisha menu as well with various flavours to choose from.This culture which was associated with aristocracy has now become a raving trend among the Gen-Y. Perhaps, it is its exotic nature that has won over the fans. Or probably the claim that the health risks involved are far lesser than normal tobacco consumption. It’s not been proven though. The hookah culture has its origin in India dating back to some 500 years ago. But it was also used in several other countries all over the world. Only the names were different. Narghile is the name most commonly used in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Albania, Bosnia, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Bulgaria and Romania. In Egypt, the Arabian countries of the Persian Gulf including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia and in Morocco, Somalia and Yemen, the term used is Shisha. In Iran, hookah is called Ghalyun while in India and Pakistan, the name is most similar to the English hookah, Huqqa. In India, hookah was only smoked in rural areas but in the last few years, many hookah bars have come up in urban areas. In South Africa, Hubbly Bubbly, as it is colloquially known, is a popular social pastime. In countries like Malaysia and Philippines, it’s very popular among the youth. It’s in fact becoming increasingly popular in Spain, Moscow and other Russian and Ukrainian cities as well. In United Kingdom, Shisha bars exist in most of the major cities and so is the case in USA and Canada.

For Guwahatians, Addicted at Zoo Road will answer all your hookah cravings. And if you’re still not too keen on smoking in public, you can very well install a hookah at home. It’s not a big deal. You just have to procure one and simply follow the steps given here.

@ Put ice in the glass base of your hookah and get the water ice cold before smoking. This makes a smoother, more enjoyable smoking experience.

@ Try mixing lemon juice, orange juice, or some other fl avour with the water in your glass base.This will enhance the taste of your smoking experience.

@ You can store your Shisha tobacco at room temperature but it must be kept in an air tight container. This will keep your tobacco from drying up and losing its flavour.

@ When you first start smoking, try placing the charcoal outside of the bowl and working it around the edges of the bowl. The centre of the bowl should be the last place your charcoal is placed.

@ For a sweeter and perhaps, more flavoured smoke, you can add some wine to the top two inches of the water in the base of your hookah. It’s a happier smoke, and you can really taste the wine.

@ Because of its consistency, hookah tends to clump up. Before you pack the bowl, crumble it up in your fingers to spread it out throughout the bowl.

@ Try putting milk instead of water to make the smoke thicker.

@ Mixing and matching flavours is a fun thing to do when trying to create the ultimate fl avour.

@ Mixing mint with other flavours provide a cool refreshing taste.

@ It’s always good to blow out the smoke once in a while which gets accumulated in the glass base so that the smoke does not become stale. This helps in getting rid of some of the harsh flavours from the stale smoke.

@ It is suggested not to run water through the hose. Simply blow air through the hose after / before each use, to blow out the particles inside the hose. Occasionally, use a small amount of water/lemon juice and swish it around your hose.

@ Never light your cigarette with the coals on your hookah.

@ Never pass the hookah directly to another person. Always put it down first and let the next person pick it up.

@ Clean your hookah regularly. This will ensure you with the best quality smoke and an
superior smoking experience.
(The article got published in The Eclectic Vibes Sep2010 issue)