Gulf Cup 2017- Kuwait

As we all know with the recent Gulf crisis it was only natural Qatar would have the Gulf Cup held in another country, they chose Kuwait. It was a big boost for Kuwait, both economically and touristic wise. The opening was presented to more than 50,000 people and finally the stadium was getting used since the opening of it a few years back. The first match was Kuwait vs. KSA and Oman vs. UAE in which UAE and KSA were winners. I however was waiting for Qatar to play as I am rooting for them all the way, their game was the following day. 

I took off from work to see the game, we headed to Jaber Stadium around 3:30 as the match would start at 5:30 pm, we arrived to an empty stadium with not a single soul around besides the police guarding the entrance. We sat for an hour and nothing changed, I looked online to see if it had been canceled but there was nothing so we headed to Marouj to check out the Qatar activity there. They have big screen tv sets and we see Qatar playing! A friend messaged me and told me they were playing in Kaifan in the Kuwait stadium so we headed that way.

The whole area surrounding the tiny stadium is under construction and no parking, it was a horrible mess. I was shocked that Kuwait would make the Qatar team play in such a bad place! After all, they were the ones who gave Kuwait this chance and that's how they were treated? The place is old and falling apart, the seats were dirty and garbage all over. I was told that because they feel that no one would show up they moved them to Kaifan, even if that was a reason they should've treated them better than that. No nice place with restaurants, just a few random people selling seeds and nuts from a plastic box. I've been to Qatar and it is amazing so seeing them diminished to a low area with nut sellers was sad.

Jaber Stadium

 Kaifan stadium

I guess they went all out for the Kuwait team and had them play at Jaber stadium, only for them to lose twice so far. I follow a lot of people from Qatar and the people who are here have visited the martyr house in Qurain, Avenues, the art museum and Mubarakiya as well as the restaurants Kuwait is famous for, that;s pretty much it for tourism. Even if only 5 people showed up at the stadium it would be ok, I think Qatar deserved that much. I can already hear people saying, well it costs a lot for security etc, everyone knows the area surrounding Jaber stadium is not good, Jaleeb Al Shuyoukh is on the other side of the highway! I don't know why it couldn't have been built more towards the city instead of that embarrassing area.

Anyways, this is just my opinion and Qatar is set for Gulf Cup 2018, I can only imagine the awesome show they will have. Go Qatar!!!

Hollywood females falling for Arab Men

It looks like a lot of Hollywood females are coming to the brown side, they are hooking up with men from Middle Eastern continents. But will it last?

Rihanna and her Saudi billionaire man from KSA Hassan Jameel

Britney Spears and her Persian man Sam Asghari

Kourtney Kardashian and her Algerian man Younes Bendjima

Janet Jackson and her Qatari ex husband Wissam Al Mana

Khloe Kardashian and her Moroccan ex French Montana

Although two relationships bit the dust the other three seem to be going on strong. Most females who know about Middle Eastern men is that they tend to act one way before marriage and a different way after. It's all fun and games while dating but once you officially become their wife they will probably expect some changes. Janet Jackson couldn't handle the Islamic way of life that her husband expected so she divorced him while gaining some significant benefits.

I do feel sorry for their son, the father wants him raised Muslim but his mother and her family which are the people raising him are Jehova's Witnesses so more than likely he will not see the Islamic way of life, sorry, but Wissam should've seen that coming. I just wanted to let Mr. Wissam know that if he needs anyone to talk to I'm here for ya boo..ha ha..issa joke folks!

I do wonder how the families of these men feel about their relationships, like the Saudi billionaire dating Rihana. KSA is a strict country but as seen by their actions in the media once they leave KSA they tend to leave everything else behind as well and party hard. Doesn't his father and their family care about his actions? Of course a lot of Saudi families have a huge amount of kids so one black sheep in the family probably doesn't count.

These are my thoughts and opinions, like anyone cares, but ladies, keep doing what ya doing, brown guys are another breed of man so enjoy!

Disclaimer: Yes I know some people do not consider Persian men Arab but they are in the general vicinity.

The Museum of Islamic Art

This time during my visit I got to visit the Museum of Islamic Art and what a beautiful museum it is. It's built out on the water and five levels of beautiful art exhibits.There is a huge window that overlooks the bay, a coffee shop is located in front of the window with an amazing view.

You can check out their website for more information, the museum is free of charge.

Market Cafe in Qatar

Last week I took my daughter to Qatar for her birthday and our local friend had us try out a new cafe concept. There are three Qatari partners who invested in the idea of supporting local up and coming chefs who are selling on IG. There are several mini refrigerators that hold food items from the chefs, they pay a membership to the cafe who in turn supports them with managing and advertising their goods in the cafe.

The cafe also provides different drinks to enjoy while eating the goods from the chefs. The cafe is really cute and has a nice relaxing vibe to it.

 We enjoyed sampling a variety of foods from koshari to cheesecakes.

 This was my favorite as I love anything with saffron

It's nice to see the locals helping new businesses with this concept, Qatar is still new to the whole food business and 'fashionista' social media thing which is good in a way as they are not tainted by money, instead they are generally nice people helping out one another. You can find their location and more info on their IG @marketcafeqa I wish them all the best! We will visit you next time we are in Doha.

Hijab Barbie!

Growing up in New Jersey, the Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad used to fashion tiny hijabs out of tissues to wrap around the heads of her Barbie dolls so they'd look more like her and her sisters.

Now, Muhammad is the face of the first hijab-wearing Barbie doll. It's a feat she described on Monday, when the doll was unveiled, as "amazing."

"When I think about my own journey, me being a Muslim girl involved in the sport of fencing, there were people who made me feel like I didn’t belong," said Muhammad, speaking at Glamour’s Women of the Year summit, where the doll was unveiled. "For all those people who didn’t believe in me, this Barbie doll is for you."

Muhammad became the first U.S. Olympian to compete while wearing the Islamic head scarf during competitions in Rio de Janeiro last year, winning a bronze medal along with her teammates in the women's team sabre event.

The daughter of a police detective and a teacher, Muhammad grew up with four siblings in Maplewood and discovered fencing when she was 13 years old, winning medals and accolades until she qualified for the Olympics in 2016. A Duke University graduate, Muhammad has become a role model and an outspoken voice for Muslim women, challenging negative stereotypes and discrimination.

Ibtihaj Muhammad was presented with the "Breaking Barriers Award" at a parade held in her honor in Maplewood last year. (Photo: Chris Pedota/northjersey.com file photo)

The Barbie, designed in her likeness, has full fencing gear, including mask and sabre, with sneakers on her feet and a hijab around her head. In her speech, Muhammad said she hoped the doll would inspire girls "to embrace what makes them unique."

"Today I’m proud to know that little girls who wear hijab and, just as powerfully, those who don’t can play with a Barbie who chooses to wear a headscarf," she said. "She’s a Barbie who is strong enough to wield a giant sabre and dedicated enough to spend years working her way to an Olympic medal."

he doll will be part of Barbie’s “Shero” line, which includes iconic women like Trisha Yearwood, Gabby Douglas and Misty Copeland and will be available for purchase in 2018.

"Barbie is celebrating Ibtihaj not only for her accolades as an Olympian, but for embracing what makes her stand out," said Sejal Shah Miller, vice president of global marketing for Barbie. "Ibtihaj is an inspiration to countless girls who never saw themselves represented, and by honoring her story, we hope this doll reminds them that they can be and do anything."

Kuwait Earthquake 2017, where were you?

This earthquake totally freaked out so many people but for my family and a few other peopl from California we are used to it but we knew our buildings were earthquake proof. I just imagine those people in those shoddy built apartment buildings were probably freaked out! Most of the buildings in Kuwait are built on what looks like stilts that hold up a massive 10 plus story building. I have a floor on a Kuwaiti house so it is a little more safer.

As for me, I was lying in my bed talking to my daughter who was standing beside me when I felt the bed moving back and forth. As it continued I asked if she felt anything, I had her touch my bed and feel the bed moving and shaking. The nanny and my younger kids came out of the room not knowing what was going on. The doors of their closet came open and was shaking.

The owner's granddaughters who are little were screaming and crying which broke my heart. My sister who is on the fifth floor of an old building called me and was like, did you feel it? My friend was driving so she felt nothing as a few other people didn't know what we were talking about either.

At first I thought it was a bomb to be honest, with all of this talk about war and fighting I honestly thought the new war had began, thankfully it was just an earthquake and my prayers go out to those who were injured and died.

a funny video of the police telling the people to go back inside, remember, most of the police don't speak English in this area.

Cuts Steakhouse Kuwait

I've see pictures of the Brazilian meat served on a big skewer table side which looked amazing.  I got the chance to check out their location Gate Mall last week. The restaurant was a little small and the a/c wasn't working too good but we decided to stay for dinner. We ordered the 'all-you-can-eat' steak from the menu, we were served bread, butter and broiled garlic half while we waited.

 As it got closer to the time to be served we were given this wooden plate for our meat.

 The first course was chicken shawerma which I wasn't expecting. Next was the meat pictured below, I asked for it medium well but the one they brought was really well done and dry as I needed to use the barbecue sauce to be able to eat it but I did enjoy that cut. The next meat was a meat kind of shawerma which I tried but didn't really enjoy and finally doner kebab skewer. I can't eat doner kebob because it is way too salty for me.

The last course was cooked pineapple and sausages, the pineapple was good but I didn't try the sausage. Overall I wasn't impressed with the experience and wouldn't go again. As the shawerma meats were being cut the pieces were flying all over the table and the meat I did like was over cooked. Some people have told me it was the location and the other ones are better but for 15 KD a person I wasn't impressed. Everyone can make their own opinion and may have a better experience than I did.

You can follow them on IG @cuts_steakhouse

The updated dining area in 360 MAll

My friend and I decided to check out 360 Mall, it had been more than a year since I last visited there and Marina Mall is rather boring. We wanted lunch and I knew the area had been updated and I must say it is the best looking dining area I've seen lately in Kuwait. The greenery made the place feel as if you were in another country. It was clean and crisp and the restrooms were clean and smelled good as well compared to other malls.

 The designer of the dining area gets my applause!

 If anyone is looking for Mexican food this restaurant Chili Pepper is in 360 Mall, they serve soft tacos and burritos. I will wait for my visit to Qatar or Dubai where the have amazing Mexican restaurants.

I'm loving these forever roses!

Shakey's Pizza Kuwait

Shakey's is a pizza chain from California and I grew up eating their pizza. The one that was brought here is a Filipino franchise originating in USA. I took my friends and the kiddos to try it out which was a total of nine starving people. The restaurant is located in Salmiya about the new 5 Guys location. You have to go inside the building and up the stairs to reach it.

 It's a nice big area with ample seating

 We had a big family deal which cost 30 KD which is quite high but it came with 2 pizzas, 12 pieces of chicken, 2 baskets of mojos, 2 pasta plates and 2 pitchers of drinks. The ice tea is made from a mix and was really sweet.

 The bread sticks were so good as was the creamy pasta dish, the red sauce dish was not real good. The Hawaiian pizza was a must have where as the pepperoni pizza was so salty the kids refused to eat it and it had to be changed. The fried chicken was pretty good but I don't remember the mojos being so tiny.

It was a good visit but not one that I would travel far for to be honest. I might stop by if I was in the neighborhood and wanted pizza but it wasn't exactly like the states.

Their location: Salmiya, Salem Mubarak St, Noor Tower opposite Galleria 2000 and you can follow them on IG @shakeyskw