Comfort, luxury and power – BMW 7 Series

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How Gorgeous is the new 7 series…loved every minute exploring the cool features of this baby!


 Walking to the BMW showroom is always an awesome experience especially after a rough day at work when the massage chair and the warm people of BMW totally hit the spot. My last visit was particularly out of this world as I checked out the new and refined 7 Series model, which is set to strengthen its leading position as the most dynamic and innovative luxury sedan in the premium automotive segment. Thanks to Kevin and his team, I got thoroughly enlightened on all the cool features of the 7 series.

BMW Middle East currently ranks as the third biggest worldwide for BMW 7 Series sales and the flagship model is consistently amongst BMW’s best-sellers across the GCC markets. The new refined 7 Series therefore, which offers new levels of luxury, comfort and power are expected to further amplify BMW’s 7 Series success story.

At first, I thought there will be just some subtle additions but in fact the design and technology modifications made give the car a stronger presence on the road and provide an even more luxurious and powerful driving experience – even as a passenger in the back seat, I felt like royalty.

The exterior design modifications enhance the car’s sophisticated and elegant appearance. The most eye-catching exterior feature is the new Adaptive LED headlights featuring hallmark BMW corona rings and a smart accent strip followed by the enhanced new front and rear bumper, new kidney grille and indicators integrated into the lower section of the exterior mirrors.

Quality workmanship, premium materials and outstanding practicality enhance the levels of comfort in the interior of the new 7 Series. The newly designed leather seats offer optimum lateral support and unbeatable long-distance comfort and can be adapted to passengers’ needs. An optional Rear Seat Entertainment package comes with a new 9.2-inch flat screen monitor while the new 1,200-watt Bang & Olufsen High End Surround Sound System delivers unrivalled sound quality, meeting my diva level requirements.

A class-leader in advanced technology, BMW’s ConnectedDrive features that give the driver and passengers information and services makes their driving experience safer and more comfortable giving the 7 Series an innovative edge over its rivals.  Tailored to the Middle East market the on board iDrive control system has an Arabic interface and navigation system.

In the cockpit, the all-new multifunctional instrument display behind the steering wheel meets all of the driver’s needs. Using extended black-panel technology, BMW opens up a whole new range of display options through the 10.25-inch screen, including instruments that use different colours and graphics depending on the driving mode selected, and provides situation-specific information such as status and function displays.

Alongside the flagship BMW 760Li with its 12-cylinder engine and the entry-level BMW 730i engine, Middle East customers can also choose from the new six-cylinder in-line engine powering the BMW 740Li and the new V8 engine in the 750Li.

It is rare to find a brand that can offer you the chance to personalize such a high-end product – the BMW Individual programme ensures that your BMW vehicle reflects your own personal taste and unique sense of individuality. The program is a specialised service offered whereby the client may specify features of the car, in order to create one’s own, unique model. The Bespoke team is dedicated to finding new paints, materials and engineering solutions in order to find new ways to develop truly exceptional cars.

A BMW Individual vehicle comes fully loaded with features and options permitting the driver to convey even further their fondness for superb quality and unique styling. And to make the BMW Individual even more special it provides the customers with the opportunity to choose their favourite seams in the leather from some patterns proposed by the programme, from the stitching to the vehicle trim. The BMW customers have come to expect only the finest and most exclusive ownership experience available in the premium segment.

Apart from exclusive upholstery, BMW Individual also offers interesting highlights in entertainment and information electronics for the tech-savvy clientele, including the ability to use various DVD, TV, navigation and on-board computer functions complete with access to the Internet.

Naturally I like anything that’s exclusive so it is delightful to know that one can have personalized or limited edition cars from BMW.  For instance, to mark the 40th Anniversary of the unification of the United Arab Emirates, BMW Group launched the BMW 7 Series UAE 40th Anniversary Limited Edition limited to just 40 cars.

The BMW 7 Series UAE 40th Anniversary Limited Edition features an exclusive Marakesh Brown exterior colour, coupled with a Merino Platinum leather interior, which features the UAE emblem on the headrest, iDrive button and other areas of the interior trim. An elegant ‘UAE 40 years’ designation features on the chrome trim at the rear of the 7 Series. Similar special features can be customized for the discerning BMW customers of the region. I can’t wait to get better acquainted with this new love wheels 🙂

Porsche Drivers Selection :)

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Stylish!

I am clearly car crazy these days….my energy has to go into something and since most people, events and things around me bore me to death, being in cars gives me that extra oomph that not much else does….at least cars are easy to control and they are functional fun machines. I like machines…all sorts and shapes!

Anyway, being a car fanatic means my fascination extends to accessories for cars or anything remotely related to cars…I go a step further and get clothes, accessories etc related to car brands….the Porsche and Ferrari retail department can vouch for this. But my current muse is the Porsche Drivers selection.

Porsche has recently launched the new Porsche Driver’s selection which features sporty fashion items and exclusive accessories which bring the Porsche feeling to every aspect of your lifestyle even when not on the roads.

The collection ranges across various categories and includes, clothes, fashion accessories, luggage, sunglasses, watches, etc.

Get a sneak peek from the pictures below….drive fashionably!

Porsche Race track

Can have a bit of Porsche on your desk too…me like!

Porsche Sport

Condense Milk in squeezy pack

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The super convenient pack that is making me smile during my sweet cravings

My colleagues have a love hate relationship with me this week…..and its all because of a delightfully sinful dose of condense milk in a squeezy pack which is enticing them towards more calories.

I personally would love to give the person who thought of the squeezy pack idea a super tight squeeze as I love condense milk…afterall Shereen literally means ‘sweet’ in so many languages. As a ‘Shereen’, I also love all things sweet, mainly chocolate but once in a while I have major condense milk or dulce de leche sessions.

I love the Cubans as I feel they make the best Dulce de leches in the world….and its all because of the humble condense milk…and currently I adore the guys at FrieslandCampina for introducing the RAINBOW Sweetened Condensed Milk in an all-new squeezy pack to this ‘sweet’ diva.

The new user-friendly squeezy pack offers a quick and convenient way to add a touch of sweetness to desserts, fruit salads, puddings and in my case, it goes straight from the tube to the mouth….6,000 beautifully smooth calories that hits the spot. Since I don’t smoke, drink booze or binge eat, I guess there had to be a weakness somewhere.

The new squeezy package makes it easy to pour and is resealable to prevent wastage. It offers a more practical and economical alternative to the usual tin…my colleagues have funny visions of helping me make two holes in the last tin and so I could blow in one to get the milk out the other…just thinking about it makes me laugh…hilarious!!!!

All I can say is that I love the innovative spirit of the guys at FrieslandCampina…they certainly know how to please a woman with a sweet tooth.

Its all about Kludi RAK

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My Fiji apartment has the same bowl but the base is dark…I love the additional accessories that I never thought of – they add so much warmth to the bathroom

Looks like my DIY mode has still not shaken off weeks after getting back from Fiji where I spent most of my time in hardware shops looking at the delightful treasures that could turn my house into a home.

Now, when I look at home accessories, it is with a different perspective and I visualize how they will look in my personal cooking and bathroom space. Bathrooms and kitchens have become the focal point of the home living experience and it is no longer about function and efficiency but instead about quality of life and pleasure…I need to feel like I am in a spa when I shower and can whip up miracles if I am set loose in a trendy kitchen.

I may not be known as a domestic diva but I do love cooking and being a Pisces, my best time is when I am in water….nothing beats a warm bath with aroma salts when it comes to getting a Pisces into chill mode.

My current favourite for kitchen and bathroom accessories is of course Kludi RAK. Being a diva, I want fittings that soothe, inspire and match my discerning tastes. And Kludi RAK satisfies my demand for decent high quality stuff that makes my personal space that much more nicer to be in … I find their designs elegant and their timeless classic fittings certainly have an edge over most of the stuff I ended up getting back home. Talking about ceramics, there is that one more thing my little heart desires….:)

‘‘Healthy Diet’ is the monthly theme at the Bahrain Science Centre

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Themed events draw Bahraini visitors to learn more about science

Each month, the Bahrain Science Centre in Isa Town develops a different theme for its educational programmes and for October, the theme is ‘Human Body – Healthy Diets’.

A healthy diet is essential for the well-being of people, especially in this age of fast foods, inactive life styles and marketing campaigns that promote the consumption of unhealthy foods and drinks. Healthy diets are an especially important issue in Bahrain as it has high child obesity rates and the incidence of diabetes and heart diseases in children is also high.

Until the mid-seventies, Bahrainis enjoyed a healthy diet based on fresh fish, fresh meat and rice, nuts, fruit and dates that were locally available through the natural food chain. Following the economic boom from the 1980s, a greater variety of foods became available, including processed products that are often less healthy than natural food options.

The increase in child obesity and associated health problems have arisen partly because there is too much choice available and the food supply chain is now dominated by imported and processed food from countries throughout the world.

What you should select to eat or drink is the key question that will be addressed in the educational programmes at the Bahrain Science Centre during October. Discussions, workshops, talks by experts and debates will be held on healthy diet choices and balanced life styles.

“One of the goals of an interactive science centre is to demystify science and make it accessible to the public”, says Professor Mike Bruton, the MTE Studios Director at the Bahrain Science Centre, “We try to provide the public with useful take-home messages about topics that are relevant to their everyday lives”.

“The Ministry of Social Development supports the concept of having a different theme each month in the Bahrain Science Centre, says Khalid Eshaq Alkoheji, Undersecretary for Community Development in the Ministry, “This allows the Science Centre to focus on different aspects of the wide field of science each month”.

The Bahrain Science Centre is located in Building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain and can be contacted on 343 606 31.

– ENDS –

Press release issued on behalf Bahrain Science Centre. For further information, please contact Shereen Shabnam on +971 507690087/ 504828177/ shereen@mtestudios.com.

About Bahrain Science Centre (BSC): The Bahrain Science Centre (BSC) is an interactive educational facility that targets children, youth and families of Bahrain. It is located in building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain. The science centre has six interactive exhibition galleries, an auditorium, four laboratories and a café/shop.

The role of the BSC is to promote awareness of the importance of science and technology, complement the school curriculum, stimulate curiosity and innovation, and create a forum for public debate on science and technology issues. The topics covered by current exhibitions include junior engineering, human health, the five senses, earth sciences and biodiversity.

Focusing on hands-on learning using interactive displays and people-centred programmes, such as science shows, Bahrain Science Centre also strongly promotes creativity and innovation as well as cross-generational learning. The science centre will also endeavour to promote an awareness of Bahrain’s contributions to science and technology and a strong Bahraini identity. It is an ideal family edutainment destination.

Big day for Audi in Bahrain today

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The two R18 cars 🙂

I wish I was in Bahrain today but had to leave Thursday night to spend the weekend with NJD. In the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the two Audi driver line-ups are fighting a thrilling battle for the title. As of the sixth of the season’s eight rounds in Bahrain today, a new strategy will guarantee absolute equality of opportunity. Audi will start to compete with two hybrid vehicles to set the agenda for the future.

Audi entered the 2012 endurance racing season with two different vehicle concepts. The Audi R18 ultra makes full use of the potential of a conventionally powered LMP sports car with a TDI engine whereas the R18 e-tron quattro as the brand’s first hybrid race car rang in a new era. That both concepts have their particular fortes was obvious on several occasions.

While the R18 e-tron quattro made history by achieving the first victory of a hybrid vehicle at the Le Mans 24 Hours and subsequently won the 6-hour race at Silverstone, the R18 ultra managed to score a debut victory at Spa. With the better grid position and fastest race lap by Lucas di Grassi at the fifth round in Brazil, the conventionally powered TDI sports car proved its potential through to the most recent event.

Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer, after scoring two victories this season in the number “1” R18 e-tron quattro, are leading the WEC drivers’ standings. With 78 points yet to be awarded, Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish trail by only 7.5 points. The Danish-Scottish driver duo of car number “2” is returning to hybrid drive in Bahrain after having run twice before in the R18 e-tron quattro, at Spa and Le Mans.

For Audi Sport Team Joest, this involves a challenging task, which thanks to Audi’s uncompromising commitment to the shared components principle is made considerably easier. For the Audi factory drivers and Audi Sport Team Joest, the track in the island state is new territory.

The sixth race of the season is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. local time and will thus take place mostly during hours of darkness.

Like at all WEC rounds, Audi is offering comprehensive coverage to the spectators at home: http://www.audi-liveracing.com will broadcast the race for six hours on the internet and also offer cockpit camera perspectives and summary reports of the race. The Audi Sport iPhone and Android apps provide WEC coverage on smartphones with live tickers, news, pictures and results. In addition, Audi’s racing fan community is kept up to speed on Facebook and Twitter.

Stressing about Moon Cakes

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I just received my Mandarin lessons for this week which I do every night before I sleep – that is if I am a good girl. Most nights I just keel over and the end of the week I struggle to learn all my 6 words of the week with correct pronunciation. It may sound easy to learn 6 words a week but trust me, in Mandarin, it’s a Herculean task.

Moon cake月饼(yuè bing) is a Chinese baked food product…..they look very nice too.

In Malaysia and Singapore, my nine years there had many of my friends trying to get me eat them but I more often than not didn’t take to it. But they are very tempting with some amazing presentations during the Mid Autumn Festival or the Zhongqiu Festival.

Typical moon cakes are round or rectangular pastries that measure about 10 cm in diameter and are 4–5 cm thick. The rich, thick filling is usually made from red bean or lotus seed paste and sometimes contain yolks from salted duck eggs, surrounded by a thin (2–3 mm) crust and it was those ones I avoided.

During my visit to Hong Kong and then later to Macau and more recently to Korea, I tried moon cakes again which were slightly different to the ones I ate in Malaysia and Singapore but I still prefer the traditional cakes a lot more. Most people eat moon cakes in small wedges accompanied by Chinese tea which makes it a really nice , traditional experience, especially when it’s with good friends.

Now although I may know a bit about moon cakes, I am still struggling with my pronunciations in this lesson today – wish I had more Chinese and Asian friends in Dubai who could help me with this so my last-minute rush to complete lessons becomes a less traumatic experience.

Weekly science debates initiated at Bahrain Science Centre

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Our science centre is becoming a landmark in Isa Town Bahrain

After the amazing visitor response in the last two months where more than 3500 visitors enjoyed the science, art and craft workshops, Bahrain Science Centre is hosting a series of debates starting this month. Visitors are invited to participate in debates on topics which include marine conservation, nuclear energy, genetically modified food and organic food. With the Marine theme of the month, children and youth can also come and enjoy a talk which will take them through a spectacular journey to meet weird and wonderful creatures that live in the sea.

Getting visitors brains in motion with a series of exciting activities, the Centre will host debates, experiments (‘Experiment of the Week’, in which kids do their own experiments under the supervision of a science teacher), science-themed art activities, static electricity demonstrations, art workshops, MAD Science shows, animal story-telling and science talks. Visitors will be enthralled to experience the ‘Scary Skeletons’ exhibition lead by the team on a torchlight safari at the Centre. Entertaining and exciting activities are offered to develop essential life skills for visitors at the Science Centre, which falls under Bahrain’s Ministry of Social Development.

“Competitive debate is a challenging and highly rewarding activity for most who become involved in it.  The majority of people avoid public speaking, and debates provide a non-threatening environment to develop public speaking skills for the future. The Bahrain Science Centre encourages building these essential life skills in the youth and children”, said Assistant Undersecretary of Community Development, Mr. Khalid Ishaq, from Bahrain’s Ministry of Social Development.

The debates will help to enhance public speaking skills, build friendships among teammates, and develop research and analytical skills, often a characteristic that high-level business professionals possess. It also encourages listening and note-taking skills that help students to learn faster and obtain better grades.

“We are delighted with the enormous success of the Science Centre with over 3500 youths and children visiting in just two months, and we look forward to further successful events in the upcoming months at the Centre”, added Ishaq.

Currently operated and managed by MTE Studios, the Bahrain Science Centre is the first of its kind in the country and all the displays are designed to be educational. Schools in Bahrain started exploring the new Bahrain Science Centre by appointment prior to its official launch with great success since it first opened its doors in late March 2012. School groups are still being formally invited until the Bahrain Science Centre opens officially to children as well as families and adults in early October this year.

The Bahrain Science Centre is located in Building 334, Road 109, Block 801, Riyadh Avenue, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain and can be contacted on 343 606 31.

Press release issued on behalf Bahrain Science Centre. For further information, please contact Shereen Shabnam on +971 507690087/504828177/shereen@mtestudios.com

My shoe fetish goes one level Up!

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I can do some serious damage to someone with those spikes

I love the detail and can’t wait to get my hands on these

Despite being a shoe collector, I have to date never been loyal to one brand when it comes to my shoe fetish….my mobile shoe rack in my car, the huge shoe storage space under my 4 poster bed, the walk in shoe closet at the entrance to my villa or my usual shoe shelves give evidence that I have very diverse eclectic or maybe even eccentric taste when it comes to shoes and boots and no brand has so far impressed me enough to be a loyal fan….although Michael Kors has come very close.

So for me to blog about shoes is a new thing despite being an authority on what works and what doesn’t (for the record, none of my Jimmy Choos have impressed me so far so no matter how famous the brand is, i would not touch it again). It is therefore unusual that I thought of writing about a pair of shoes I have not even tried yet but have been bowled over by their Industrial and bold designs. I’m talking about the AW12 collection from Vince Camuto.

The shoes in this collection reflect an air of bold fierceness. Since I am slowly venturing into the fierce fashion zone (my way of trying to appear strong and firm), I cant wait to try these out….if you have tried this brand before, let me know what your thoughts are….i hope they are as comfortable and gorgeous as they look in the pictures. I certainly don’t want a repeat of the Jimmy Choo experience. My feet ache just thinking about it!

The Journey of a Drop

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©SusanSmart – It certainly looks like a dramatic fall

If you have been following the London Design Festival 2012, by now you must have heard about the installation by Rolf Sachs at the V&A.

I read with interest how conceptual designer Rolf Sachs presentes a site-specific installation for the V&A’s rarely seen before Henry Cole Staircase. Playfully responding to the museum’s architecture, Sachs creates a visually arresting and emotionally engaging spectacle with the focus on the dramatic drop….from the images, it looks pretty dramatic.

So….emerging from his inherent curiosity and experimental personality, Rolf Sachs invites the observer on a sensory journey. Apparently spectators are drawn into the mysterious performance and a voyage of discovery that beckons the eye upward. From the soaring heights of the atrium, three lab- like instruments individually drop primary coloured ink in measured intervals.

Starting slowly, with scientific precision, each measured drop quickly gains pace. As the speed gathers momentum, the drop becomes more spontaneous in its nature, before falling into the depths and landing into a vast tank of illuminated liquid with unexpected results.

On impact the individual drops explode into the liquid creating organic transient clouds of ever changing shapes and colour. Yet once more taken by surprise, the observer sees these clouds mingle and merge until inexplicably disappearing… until the next show.

Understated at first glance, the seemingly simple notion of a drop falling has been masterfully designed using finely-tuned machinery and specially developed liquids and pigments.

Intended to touch all the senses, the apparent silent sounds of the drops hitting the water is captured by an underwater microphone and amplified like an echo throughout the space.

Encouraging further interaction, binoculars are at hand opposite the tank, to witness the complete journey of the drops from a variety of perspectives, intensifying the connection between the art and the observer. I better not tell NJD as she is dying to use her funky Nikon binoculars for weeks now and this would be such a perfect place to use it.

We know that Rolf Sachs’ work takes inspiration from everyday objects he believes to have soul and character but this is the first time I read carefully about his work.

Perhaps because he moves across art and design, objects, spaces and visual medium, all of which are approached with his playful sense of humour. Or maybe I got drawn because the essence of his work encourages human interaction, and emotional and sensory reactions.

Whatever it is, I love the fact that his ideas, prototypes and creations showcase how he fuses design with the arts.