How to spend your saturday evening: Bachata Dance Class

Straight off the bat, what is Bachata dancing?

Basically, Bachata is a style of dance tha t originated in the Dominican Republic. It is danced widely all over the world.


The basics to the dance are three-step with a Cuban hip motion , ended by a tap on the 4th beat just like in other Latin dances (salsa etc.). The knees should be slightly bend so the performer can sway the hips easier. The movement of the hips is very important because it's a part of the soul of the dance. Generally controlled full body movement is crucially important in the dance, but most of it comes from the hips. In partnering, the lead can decide whether to perform in open or closed position , depending on the lead’s comfort position. Dance moves, or step variety, during performance strongly depends on the music (such as the rhythms played by the different instruments), setting, mood, and interpretation. Unlike Salsa (the most traditional Latin Dance), Bachata does not require many complex turns; although they are very well used when the musicality is understood and interpreted correctly. The leading is done just like in most other dances, with a “pushing and pulling” hand communication. If this is done correctly, the follower should clearly understand the intended direction. Although there is a lot of body movement in Bachata dancing, the hand communication is better understood when most of the movement is performed by the lower body (from waist down); i.e. hips and footwork.

Sounds complex right? Not with this instructor in Kuwait.

A three and a half year pro, the lovely, talented Deniz Çerinan(pronounced Sherry-non) has taken her talent to Kuwait and started a Bachata Dance Class.

They meet every saturday for one hour, from 7 to 8pm, at the British Institute of Vocational Training (BIVT) [if you are coming from Blajat St (extension of Gulf Road), take the right near Pizza Hut, Restaurants St, and take the second right on that street (it is as if you are heading to the roundabout with NBK and Geant) you should see their sign, right next to Farah Restaurant]


Salmiya, Block 3, Street 5, Building 3.

You can send your emails to kuwaitbachataclub@gmail.com for more information etc.

It is a great dance to learn, a little demonstration of what Bachata dancing is like:



See you there :)

Plugging a new sound: Terminus - Shades of Conflict

Please, do visit their page, and listen to the awesomeness that is, or was, a local band in Kuwait (some are scattered around the globe now).

It is worth it.

To those who attended school in the 2000~2004 era, NESians, remember them from Battle of Bands, or Rock music, I forget what the day was called, but they are all that and a bag of chips.

Enjoy, I have the playlist set on repeat until I figure out a way to get these tunes on my ipod ;)

Definition of an @$$hole - In pictures

What really never fails to glaze my donuts is the inconsideration that the majority of the driving populace show for their fellow drivers.

Case in point; I'm on my way to Dar Al Shifa hospital for some routine tests, am scouring the parking lot looking for a space and I see this:

this is a local @$$hole @ work

On the other hand, the trip to the hospital was amusing! Insurance, you gotta love it! I cannot believe a consultation with a Dr. here is 25KD?! Blood work, X-rays, holy-moly... But with a nifty insurance card, all is free :) (for me + spouse,, just sayin' :P )

At the first stop, the Orthopedic unit, I submit my details and am asked to wait in the lobby, I go over to take a seat, and just as I am lowering my derriere to the chair, I landed really hard on something, well, hard! I was like, damn, what just happened?!

Apparently, I miscalculated, and instead of sitting on the plush, full, comfortable chairs they have, I landed on the little table they have attached to it~!

Still, the above anecdote is no excuse for idiot drivers like the ones above, the world does not revolve around you, we all also have errands to run, and drive cars, that need parking spaces, which are impossible to find if assholes like you keep parking the way they do.

Kuwaits Next Health Event - November 27th Beat Diabetes Walkathon

Strangely enough, I found out about this on the day of the 10K marathon!

I decided to go for a walk afterward, treat myself to a nice cup of joe, to compensate for the one I missed after waking up @ 7:30 that morning for a race that starts @ 8:30!

Anyhoo, some background info on the walk:

Landmark Group (remember, Centrepoint's previous name?), the region’s leading retail and hospitality conglomerate, announces the launch of ‘Beat Diabetes’ walkathon. The walkathon, which is supported by Ministry of Health and Dasman Diabetes Institute, is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed to further spread awareness about the condition and its causes among the wider community. The walkathon will take place on Saturday, 27th November 2010; it will begin from The Yacht Club and end at Green Island. Registration is free; forms are available at Landmark Group outlets (Centrepoint, Max, Home Centre and New Look stores).



The ‘Beat Diabetes’ campaign this year will host walkathons and free blood glucose screening.

In Kuwait the screening will take place on 24th and 25th November across the 11 outlets of Landmark group.


Unfortunately for me, I shall not be here for the event :(

It shall be from the Yacht Club to Green Island, starting @ 9am

BUT! January, I am definately all in for the half-marathon, 21K, bring it on!

Music that Burns Calories

one of the greatest power songs on my ipod whilst jogging..

Heres lookin' at you kid,,,

Camels, Cows & Dookie! The Sulaibiya Desert Biking Experience - Pictures

When I got the email saying that friday morning we would be cycling near the arid wasteland that is Sulaibiya, I was a bit hesitant to answer the call. But, my sense of adventure got the best of me, and I decided, so what if it is near the prison, what are the chances an escaped con will want my POS bicycle?

Woke up early friday morning to head out and meet the lead man for directions, I have to say this, there are two classes of expats in Kuwait. Western & Eastern. The Western mentality is more, geared to following the rules, in the sense that here we were, at 6:20 in the morning, driving down the Fourth Ring Road, no cameras in sight, even the camera near the nurseries was removed, and we were on a steady 80. Had I known the way, I would have been going at atleast, 100, 110 tops. Not too fast, but also, not the speed limit mentioned on the signs.

We got on to the 6th and the average speed went up to 110 or so, very law-like. God bless him tho for allowing me to follow, I would have been lost lost lost!

The ride was spectacular. Around 23 peeps showed up for this one, as opposed to the 6 from my abismal first try!

Got to see camels, and smell dookie (manure) all the way! The former was much more preferable than the latter! Even got to see some VIP camels with a police escort! We then crossed the street to the other side and journeyed to the farmlands, stopped by KDC for some Ice-cream and Mint Laban, then headed to a private garden.

I leave you now with photos from that wonderful day:

CAMEL CIGARETTES!!



Oregatu Gozaimas!



Tarzan is handsome, Tarzan is Strong,
He is really cute & his hair is Long !

Look out, here comes the Spiderman!!

Translation: The Quick Brown Fox Jumps over the Lazy Dog X 50!

An Original Quote on Progress

"The most effective way to measure progress is to

know your limits; and then exceed them."

Lord Aymz

Why did I come up with that?

It all had to do with my past weekend, the busiest of my entire life!

Friday morning, had a desert biking ride with the DBCK, extremely enjoyable! It will get its own post real soon.

Saturday morning, RunQ8 marathon. 10K, managed to finish it in under 50 minutes, I had promised myself I would only have oatmeal for dinner that night, but one thing lead to another, and I met a highschool friend over in Kuwait City and we went and had some Palak Paneer & Dal Fry + some spicy chicken, I think the most destructive of all this was the oil-soaked bread!

Still, I managed to do it in good time, and offer some entertainment to the peeps in the form me jumping over the distance markers, just for shits & giggles.

It was great seeing all the Fijians from the Saracens Rugby team out in full force, as they work for Agility, and were a mighty helpful hand that day. I managed to score a bronze medal (they were giving them out to everyone :P ).

Sunday, Rugby training, although I cannot feel anything beneath my thighs, and walking is a pain, I still laced up the boots and went out for training. Got an ovation from the guys for a well-placed tackle, despite doing some damage to my right pinky. And a bruise on my left arm that I have no idea how it got there!

Later on, the gym, for some chest workouts, and a relaxing dip in the freezing cold pool, followed by 10 or so mins in the sauna to unwind.

Monday, more rugby!

So you see, always set your limits, and exceed them, only in that will you truly be able to excel.

The Ultimate Skiving Excuse

In the wrong hands, this little piece of advice is deadly, but when used moderately, it provides a great cover story!

I've noticed when changing jobs that it is not a good omen to tell your current employer that you are going for an interview during official office hours. If you feel honor-bound to do so, you are a moron, no offence.

But what is the perfect excuse to skive off work, to go for that interview that runs later than expected?

For guys, and the adventurous girls, I have found the perfect one.

What you will need to pull this off is a drivers licence, coz you need to be driving!

Here is how it goes; you go for your interview with the new company, everything is stellar, they love you, so you spend a few more minutes chatting around and generally absorbing the atmosphere of your soon-to-be new workplace. Uh-oh, its now 15 mins to 2, and you took a break at 12 for an hour for lunch. What to do?

Never fear, drive methodically back to your current employer, on the way out of your car, simply rub your hands over the tire to get the effect similar to the picture above, walk into your office, head held high, and explain to them you had a flat tyre.

I've used this excuse twice, and it has always helped me make the jump to what is better.

Ofcourse, it must be used in moderation, you cannot go having a flat tyre every month, that would draw suspicion!

Cops Caught Canoodling in Car

Cops are people too!

Arab Times
 Oct 17: Police have arrested two people (a policeman and a policewoman) for making love inside a car, reports Alam Alyawm daily.



According to reports they were caught red-handed by a police patrol on seashore.


The couple have been detained at the Hawalli Police Station.


No further details were available.

We always read about how the driver is caught with the maid, the teenagers are caught together, but now, in an unprecedented turn of events, cops are caught red handed.

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Apparently someone is!

November 1st, a day of many Firsts

I look at the calendar now, and realise that the final countdown has begun, 2010 is almost waning, and 2011 is fast approaching, visible on the horizon.

With the impending doom of a new year, comes alot of thought and self-assessment. How has the previous year passed, what have I accomplished, how can I further better myself, how can I be of better use to my fellow humans (and animals!), how have I contributed to helping out the less fortunate?

A magnitude of questions, that can only be answered within.

Yesterday I paid my first (and last I hope!) ever speeding tickets in Kuwait! So exciting! The way in which technology and the internet has made our lives so much easier is just, amazing.

You go to the MOIs website, you go to online services, go to traffic violations, enter your Civil ID number, plate number etc. and you will be shown whether you've been good or naughty this year. If you've been naughty, you can even see where, when and why you were charged. I was doing 103 on the Gulf Road, speed limit was 80, fine of 30KD, and 76 in a 60 zone which I have no idea where, so thats a fine of 20KD.

First things first, denial! I was like, speeding ticket, me? No way! So the first thing I did, the natural impulse of all Audiors, was to look for the audit trail! So I checked my bank statement for the dates of the incidents, must have been shopping related I reckon (thank god for plastic!), then I checked my email to see what was happening on that day, pay close attention to facebook status's etc!

I came up short, didnt find out why those two happened, all I know is it was definately me, both saturdays, both early morning.

But you no longer have to run around the giant complex paying fines at one window, getting a stamp at the next, just go to online payment, enter your card number, and bada-bing-bada-boom, ticket-be-gone! You gotta love the 21st Century!
Also, at rugby practice, I had my first semi-serious neck trauma. First, a guy ran hip first into the side of my head (literally heard my neck cracking), and a while later, another kneed me in the collarbone. Hence I cannot turn my head to the right today :/

No amount of tiger-balm will ease the neck pain, so I'm using Excedrin (its banned in Kuwait now I think coz of the Acetaminophen [sounds like crystal meth right?])

FYI I did not know that tiger balm had a cooling effect! I rubbed it on all over like there was no tomorrow, and was literally shivering in my sleep coz I felt cold, so cold!

Preparations for the RunQ8 10K Marathon

I've got the snuffles, my ears pop everytime I swallow, I have a smokers cough even though I do not smoke, and guess what? The RunQ8 10-K marathon is this Saturday!

I love being on the move. As part of my plethora of activities, I jog every week, go to rugby training twice a week, go cycling once a week, and hopefully starting soon will add dance to my weekly activities.

But you need to be healthy for all that! I still push myself to do it anyway, I feel the germs and bacteria want you to laze about, so they can fester, so I say H-to-the-No and as Nike advertising taught us, Just Do It.

Also, for the "commission", Adidas say "Impossible Is Nothing"!

The RunQ8 marathon takes me back to the days of the Terry Fox run, which I have become disassociated with ever since graduating from Highschool. It was an annual event, 1KD ticket, somewhere near Messilah, roads would be closed and laces would be done up. It was a thoroughly enjoyable, and healthy experience. A great time to meet-and-greet almost everyone you know in Kuwait.

So, this event promises to bear a hint of nostalgia.

Tickets are 5KD, and they are for a good cause, the Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute (FSRI) will be raising money to support the efforts of The Community Eye Health Initiative at Kuwait University. You must have seen their stalls asking for your old, unused pairs of glasses as donations to help underprivileged children see.

So, despite my ill-health, I will pop as many pills (lol) as necessary to see this cause come to fruition.

The timing shall be as follows on D-Day:

7:30am: Registration at the grounds of the Scientific Center in Salmiya. (you get a t-shirt, one size, XL :P)


8:30am: Warm-up lead by various trainers from the Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute and Al Corniche Club

9:00am: 10K Run/Walk will start on the Gulf Road outside the Scientific Center, will continue to the Al Corniche Club and loop back to the Scientific Center
 
So, without further adieu, On your mark, get set..
 
Go ;)