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Experiencing glass bead-making at YADAWI

Published by halyoosha

I’ve been getting back into exploring the art scene here in Kuwait and decided to book a glass bead-making experience at YADAWI with bead maker Lubna Saif, who is also the co-founder of the platform.

Yadawi is housed next door to the Bayt Al Othman Museum, and has several workshop spaces within for decoupaging, macrame, printmaking and calligraphy as well as studios for artists, an arts and crafts supply shop and lastly a large glass-making atelier. Yadawi is the first center of its kind in the Gulf dedicated to glass arts.

The glass-making space has several work stations for bead-making as well as a section for glassblowing and making glass structures conducted by instructor Mohammed Alduwaisan of @Gizaz_art.

My workshop was a ‘bead making taster’, so I was going into an introduction to creating beads from glass.

Getting started

First we started with a demonstration on how to use the glass rods and the various hand manoeuvres required when working with them under the flame.

Glass needs to be introduced to the flame gently by rolling the rods back and forth with your fingers whilst bobbing them in and out of the flame. This bobbing technique prevents the glass from cracking when inserted into high temperatures. The slower the hand movements, the slower the glass moves when beginning to melt. I had initially moved the rod around quickly to catch up with the glass drooping as it melted, but it turns out that this only makes the glass move faster. Therefore, there were several things I had to keep in mind whilst playing with the glass.

When it was time to go behind the flame myself, I tried my hand at pulling stringers first. Basically, I first learned how to create a “gather”, which is a mass of molten glass at the tip of a glass rod. Once the gather is big enough, I could use tweezers to pinch the glass and wait for the right moment to pull it. Timing is everything in this.

Here, instructor Lubna Saif has created a ‘gather’ at the tip of the rod when melting it, and getting the tweezers ready to pull the glass into a stringer.

The stringers, which are then used to decorate a bead.

Making the bead

After a warm up stretching stringers, it was time to make the actual bead!

To make beads, essential equipment is required of course. A torch with a well-ventilated area consisting of a hood, a fuel source, mandrels, bead release, glass rods, tweezers, and most importantly safety goggles.

Glass bead-making terms

A ‘bead release’ is what each of these metal sticks (also called mandrels) are dipped in. As you can tell, the mandrels have grey coloured tips and once warmed up in the flame, the glass permanently sticks to them.

To get started, I selected the colour of the glass rod I wanted and held it in my dominant hand. I waved the rod in and out of the flame in order for the glass to adjust to the change in temperature and to avoid a “shock” (heating it directly will cause the glass to shatter/crack).

Then, the tip of the glass begins to turn red and that’s when I would start to roll the glass rod back and forth between my fingers for even heat distribution. This movement needs to be consistent to avoid the glass from drooping or cooling.

I take the mandrel (dipped stick) into my other hand and warm it up simultaneously, focusing on both of my hands doing two different things – one hand is rolling the glass rod while the other keeping the mandrel horizontally and moving it in and out of the flame and preparing it for the incoming hot glass rod.

An example of the glass rod in one hand, mandrel in the other.

Glass rod making contact with the mandrel to make the bead.

Once the glass rod touches the mandrel, I roll the rod on to it whilst rotating the mandrel away from me. This sounds difficult but with practice, it becomes mesmerising and enjoyable to the point that one wants to make one more bead after another.

Once I am satisfied with the bead, I gently pull away the glass rod allowing the flame to cut the trailing string.

Meanwhile, I put down the glass rod but continue to heat the bead on the mandrel – shaping it to perfection and evening out any bumps or inconsistencies to make it rounder. The practice is similar to roasting a marshmallow!

At this point, I can also introduce a stringer to decorate the bead with dots, florals or swirls. As I mentioned above, a stringer can be compared to a delicately thin glass pencil that is used to draw lines or other details on the bead.

I learned how to create swirls in my bead as shown below.

After the bead is taken off the flame, it is immediately plunged downwards into a coal-like substance called vermiculite to allow them to cool gradually and avoid cracking.

After a couple of days, we released the beads from the mandrel and polished them from inside with water.

Now, it was time to take the beads home!

This workshop was three hours long and I got an extra two hours on another day to fully complete the learning experience. At the beginning, working with melted glass can be intimidating but once I learned how to handle and control the glass, it’s easy to get hooked and keep experimenting with the endless ways of making a bead. I had a great time!

My daughter also spent time in the other studio doing decoupage! 🙂 So we were both doing workshops alongside each other which was so much fun!

Seasonal Activity in Kuwait: Flamingo Watching!

Published by halyoosha

Over the weekend, we decided to look for flamingos in Kuwait. Since winter is approaching, there are lots of exciting outdoor things to do now.

Flamingos migrate to Kuwait starting early Fall and stay until Spring, so it was the perfect time to see them.

We drove to the Sulaibikhat area where they are most commonly spotted. Once we arrived, we couldn’t see any and I was squinting trying to catch sight of them. I saw what looked white specks from afar. We used our daughter’s binoculars to zoom into the sea and there they were! It was so exciting to locate them.

There was a way to drive closer to them over empty sand lots and bumpy paved pathways until we reached a small cliff overlooking them with a better view.

The flamingos were moving in flocks along the sea further and further away along the shore. The higher the tide, the closer they are to the coastline. The high tide that day was at 6.30am, and we arrived at 10am which meant the tide had already receded a little but not completely. The low tide had started at 1pm that day and then high again at 9pm.

It is important to check what timings the tides start as each day is different.

Arriving super early when the tide is high is favourable as the flamingos will be in close proximity, however, since we arrived at 10am we could still see them fairly near.

Here, I used a zoom camera lens to take the photo.

A Gorgeous Visit to a Slovenian Arboretum -Volcji Potok.

Published by halyoosha

Eighty-five hectares in size. Volcji Potok is a stunning public garden of various species of trees, flowers and plants around the world as well as plant “nurseries”. The garden is located in Slovenia – the third most forested country in Europe.

Even though we frequent Slovenia (aka former Yugaslavia), this was my first time stepping into this vast botanical garden. I felt I was in a mythical fantasy scene in Zelda, due in part to the park’s magnificent, towering trees of all kinds and pristine plains where one can run through freely with arms wide open.

Very cool real-size models of humpback whales

The garden is incredibly lush and it was a slow day, so there was absolutely no rush walking – which is how it is meant to be enjoyed. The parks are inspired by both English and French styled gardens.

There is a wonderful playground for kids, and I loved how it all intertwined into the surrounding nature. There are treehouses with slides, mazes that lead to a wooden tower, lakes with ducklings and catfish, a dinosaur area and other fun, giant real-life sized models of animals such as whales that were integrated interestingly into the landscape.

As we walked along the gravel trails, I was in awe of the beautiful trees – all individually labeled with their Latin names. There was one tree that rung a bell and it was the Gingko Biloba tree. This is one of the oldest living tree species in the world. It comes from an ancient group of trees that date back to before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. We’re talking a tree that has survived millions of years, it’s literally a living fossil! The tree is used for a range of medicinal purposes as well.

In April, the tulips were in bloom. In June, we were lucky to see the fully bloomed rose garden in the botanical garden. We spent time admiring all of the different kinds of roses and I felt like I was in an enchanting ancient Roman garden or one from a 19th century period. I loved how each rose had it’s own sweet distinct scent giving ode to meadows, honey and fruit. We had to be sure we weren’t sniffing into a flower with a busy bee though! My daughter ran enthusiastically from rose bush to rose bush taking in a whiff of their fragrances.

We also passed by a pond with catfish. It was funny how they swarmed towards us with their hungry gaping mouths surfacing from the water.

The area is so peaceful and wooded that it has meditation spots.

This was one of the most gorgeous pine trees I have ever seen. The photo doesn’t do justice to its scale and beauty. It was incredibly tall, and literally looked like a tree from Lord of the Rings.

Ripe pinecones are a common sighting, but finding unripe ones fallen on the ground such as these are out of the ordinary.

That wraps up our visit to the garden. It’s one of those places that can be treated like a day trip, as you can spend hours wandering it’s path and trails. Mind you, we arrived in the early morning and left by around 5pm and still didn’t cover the entire area!

You can read more about my past trips to Slovenia here 🙂

My Japanese Inscriptions: Tokyo

Published by halyoosha

March/April 2018

Japan, a place that has long governed my list of places to see and experience and I finally did! It was one of those dream destinations that was always on my mind. Dreaming of Tokyo, I often imagined neon streets, an energetic buzz that leaves you mesmerized, and the overall excitement of being in such an interesting new world to get lost in. It is everything that I imagined it to be; home to the fascinating, unusual, and bizarre. I noticed how the smallest and most everyday things are subtly different and Japanese in their own way! Overall, a visit to Tokyo most certainly implies a world of discoveries and stimuli for all the senses.

My first glance at Tokyo!

We landed in Japan during the winter times, and it was freezing cold. Once we arrived in Shiodome, Minato, a redeveloped district known for it’s modern architectural design, we let ourselves get a little lost on the way to our hotel and it was already a sensory overload for me.

I couldn’t wait to explore this treasure trove of encounters and experiences!

On the following morning, we explored the area and went into a small convenience store called “Family Mart” to grab something fun to eat (also known as a Konbini in Japanese).

There were all sorts of interesting-looking snacks, desserts, pastries and bento boxes – and all were labeled in Japanese so it was impossible to understand if only from a cute cartoon drawing on the package. The store had virtually everything you need, from thoughtfully packaged meals to sandwiches. And almost anything I picked up was delicious. We used the Google Translate Camera app to point at the packaging and it would give us a general idea of the content which was really helpful. However, the fun part was randomly picking up a variety of snacks and trying them out for surprise! These mini marts became one of my favorite stops throughout our trip and every time I walked into one I was wide-eyed at the variety of items to try.

Some snacks I tried were clam-flavored ramen and a kind of dried fish and seasoned calamari, and there was even kiri-flavored ice-cream! My favorite part of walking into any Japanese convenience store is their “Hot meal station” next to every cashier for a “grab & go” snack. The photo below shows some rice buns with different fillings and Tsukune, which are tender Japanese chicken meatball skewers glazed in delicious seasoning.

A Japanese convenience store with a variety of snacks

In every district, I have jotted down my main observations and initial encounters in the area.

Tokyo is divided into several districts, each with their own unique character and charm. Our very first district was Asakusa, where we visited the sacred grounds of the Sensoji Temple.

Getting around Tokyo

It is no doubt that Tokyo’s metro system will get you to many places, but it’s a labyrinth of subway lines. We got lost a few times before eventually getting the hang of it (thanks to my husband who mastered it like a BOSS! Without him I would get stranded 🙂

Japanese people

One aspect of Japan that I found striking is the sheer respect and politeness of Japanese people. From the courteous taxi drivers in their immaculately clean vehicles (with automatic doors that open and close!) to the humble department store workers and businessmen at the subway, I was quite shocked at the amount of genuine hospitality. There were many instances throughout our stay that reinforced this.

One great example was at the metro station, we were seemingly lost and attempting to find the correct subway line. Usually when that happened we would turn to a local for help. This time we approached a business man and he pointed us to line “8”. When we reached, we waited for the metro to arrive and after about 10 minutes we see the man running to our direction apologizing profusely that he was mistaken and the right line was “7”. The fact that he took the time and effort to come back and tell us this left me astonished! Another example was similar except that we asked help from a young college student. He whipped out his phone to search for answers and it really looked like he sincerely wanted to help us. He even missed his train!

I also remember another endearing instance when we were about to get some drinks from a vending machine and my husband accidentally dropped a pile of coins. Children nearby rushed to pick up the coins and give them to us. Where in the world do you see this act of politeness? Respect and etiquette are at the core of Japan and embedded in their culture.

Nostalgia in Japan?

One look at Japan’s traditional culture, technology, innovation and art made me realize that the Japanese actually strive for perfection in everything, which makes it such an orderly and organized nation. There is also an air of nostalgia that I couldn’t point my finger on. It could be the old-school Japan, and I guess I would say that a sense of nostalgia is even reflected in their manga, invoking a longing for the good old days.

ASAKUSA DISTRICT

Asakusa is known for the oldest Buddhist Temple in Tokyo dating back to 645 AD called Sensoji. The path leading to the temple is also one of Japan’s oldest shopping streets called Nakamise Dori. When in Japan, I wasn’t really looking into touristed-out typical travel trinkets. I was more on the lookout for rare Japanese finds, be it handicrafts or only-in-japan traditional souvenirs.

Toy Capsules (Gachapon in Japanese)

Another one of my favorite things to do was scout the toy capsule machines all around Tokyo, which are itself a cultural phenomenon. Believe it or not, each area has different editions with unique collectibles. Exploring the various miniature works of art in plastic such as capsuled mini food models, anime characters, keychains, and toys is a really fun experience and addicting in a way too. These were quite nostalgic for me because I remember my favorite childhood video game Shenmue where the lead character wondered the streets of Yokosuka, Japan, collecting toy capsules.

Opened one of my toy capsules to find 551 Horai, which is a popular Asian rice bun outlet.

A Japanese pickle store – Tsukemono

KIMONOS – THE TRADITIONAL GARMENT OF THE OLD EDO PERIOD

Kimono rental shops are pretty much everywhere, and it’s always good to consider wearing an authentic kimono as you stroll the old streets of the Edo period. The intricacies that go into wearing one and the rainbow of choices that come in different patterns and colors was interesting to observe. One fact I learned from the lady working at a kimono rental shop was that you can “Level-up” your kimono gear, depending on the pattern and fabric that range from basic kimonos to more elaborate ones worn by Geishas or wedding ceremonies. All in all, dressing up in a kimono is an art by itself.

Owls (Fukuro) everywhere

One of the things I noticed was Japan’s obsession with owls, just like myself. I learned that there is some significance and meaning to owls in Japanese culture. Most if not all Japanese souvenir shops had owl trinkets, charms and owl figures almost as popular as Hello Kitty. Owls actually symbolize luck in Japan, and the word “Fukuro” for owls means “Good luck or fortune”.

Each colored owl symbolizes luck, protection or fortune

Arriving at Asakusa’s Sensoji Temple

Japan’s ancient Buddhist Temple is called Senso-ji, considered to be a very spiritual place in Tokyo. It was crowded when we reached, and masses of people surrounded a cauldron producing a cloud of billowing incense smoke that visitors were wafting over themselves. People light up incense sticks and place them in the giant urn to make a wish before entering the temple ahead.

Also, before entering the temple there is a fountain of purity. The streams of water are meant to provide spiritual cleansing before moving forward.

Once in the temple, there are consistent rattling sounds coming from over the temple from people shaking metal containers with hopes of receiving a good fortune. I picked up a box as well and once satisfied with the shaking, I turned it over and a wooden stick came out of a small slit at the bottom. There were some characters written on it with which you have to match on the drawer in front of you. After spotting the correct drawer, I was lead to open it and receive my “Omikuji” (fortune). I deciphered it, and I turned out to get a good fortune! Normally, if you get a positive reading you take the fortune back home with you, if not, you tie it on to a “Omikuji tree” at the temple and leave it behind.

Japanese vending machines

The Japanese have a strong affair with vending machines, and its no wonder as they really are a source of fascination due to the variety of items sold in them. They are very convenient and handy too, dispensing a range of cold and hot beverages with the cutest and most colorful packaging. My husband and I would always stop at one to grab ourselves a nice warm drink, he always got the hot coffee while I had tea with milk.

The cutest bottle of water!

Back to Shiodome, Minato

Pachinko Arcades: Gambling?

A craze that I found in almost every corner were Japanese arcades known as “Pachinkos”. When we entered one, it looked like a form of gambling and the majority playing were middle-aged men in suits fixated on the screens of their machines which were blaring and making incessant noise. It almost seemed like they were oblivious to their surroundings and focusing solely on the game in front of them. I tried to understand what they were playing exactly, but all I could make out were flashy colors and random balls, it mostly resembled a pinball game. Honestly, I couldn’t stay in one for more than 3 minutes as the sounds were overwhelmingly loud and unpleasant. I guess when you’re so into the game you kind of block out the noise overtime.

White surgical masks: Protection or a long-standing trend?

You might always wonder why the majority of Japanese, especially from Tokyo, wear white masks like just another clothing garment and at first it may seem puzzling. In reality it is a social etiquette, either to block viruses or allergies or prevent yourself from spreading them to others. I also learnt from one Japanese that it helps battle the “hay fever” season caused by a specific Japanese cedar tree, therefore donning a mask helps alleviate the symptoms. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if masks are actually considered a fashion statement in Japan as there are all kinds of styles and colors sold everywhere.

Japanese Tea: A way of philosophy

Tea is a Japanese cultural activity and custom that involves a ceremonial preparation and presentation of the Japan’s favorite powdered “Matcha” green tea, and there’s a whole philosophy behind it that helps one enjoy their tea through a relaxing experience. It’s less about the drink and more about the appreciation of the nature and art of making the tea. When we entered an old tea shop, there were a wide variety of tea leaves with premium being the highest quality. The man working there offered to prepare a sample for us with his ceremony utensils, and the whole preparation looked like a form of mastery representing harmony, purity, serenity and respect.

The Imperial Palace

The Imperial Palace

The Imperial palace is set amidst beautiful traditional Japanese gardens and is the place where the Emperor of Japan resides. It was especially stunning during the season of Cherry Blossoms which we were very luck to witness! The entire grounds gave us a feel of ancient legacy.

The Enchanting Sakura: Shades of Pink

It’s a lovely sight to witness when gardens and parks are blanketed with blossoms of pale pink, baby pink, and deep pink hues. This is when we knew it was the onset of Spring in Japan. The Imperial Palace was amongst the best spots for cherry-blossom-viewing. I hadn’t known prior to traveling to Japan, that there is more than one type of Sakura tree. There are actually over 600. It was certainly a dream come true to be walking amidst their magical beauty and a great memory I’ll cherish!

A type of “Yellow Sakura”

Cherry blossoms are so iconic and loved all over the world, that the Japanese have an entire word for “looking at flowers” which is called “Hanami”. There are several “Hanami spots” throughout Japan to admire the blossoms.

Hanami picnics – an ancient tradition and national pasttime

Sakura flavored treats are also very common, with sakura flavored Starbucks Pink Milk Lattes to sakura-layered white chocolate Mille Feuille and Sakura-infused tea.

Ginza District

Ginza is known as Shopping Heaven. You can find everything from high-end luxury brands for men’s and women’s fashion in multi-storied designer buildings to traditional Japanese goods ranging from stationary stores to expensive Japanese pottery shops.

Cutting-edge galleries

Tokyo in general has a lively art scene, but in Ginza in particular there are a variety of arts, antiques, and crafts for display in galleries which make for great spots for inspiration.

Japanese glazed porcelain dolls

The art of Japanese dolls

Japanese Stationary: The 100-year stationary store

If there’s another thing that Japan and I have in common, it’s our passion for stationary! In this digital age, I still go nostalgic for beautiful artful greeting cards and postcards. In Japan, there’s an entire century-old stationary store devoted just to stationary goods called Itoya. And of course, I went wild.

With over 7 floors, you can find your ideal ballpoint pen, make your very own customized notebook through a color, texture & thickness chart, home care goods, Japanese colored paper art works, and a whole floor dedicated to postcards, greeting cards and stickers. The stationary looks so cute, I wanted to get everything. Aside from the cuteness, Japanese stationary puts quality, design and functionality at the forefront.

A greeting card portraying the famous Sagano Railway in Japan.

The original Sheseido Cosmetics Building

Sheseido is huge in the beauty industry, and it’s personally one of my favorite Japanese cosmetic brands. That’s why spotting Ginza’s original Sheseido building of 9 floors got me excited! Starting with make up on the first floor followed by skincare on the second where I received a personalized beauty diagnostic. They have several stations devoted to various skincare needs, from anti-aging, moisturizing, serums and more. I also stopped by 2 more floors which had a hairdresser and photo make up studio. I stocked up on a lot of exclusive Japanese Sheseido make up and skincare after spending hours exploring their items which was a delightful experience 🙂

Only a street away is an another entire building dedicated to a Sheseido bakery known as Sheseido Parlour. This is a fact I hadn’t previously known about, which is that Sheseido has it’s own line of baking goods that come in beautifully-packed containers. One of the most well-known items is their signature Sheseido cheesecake which was popularized in Ginza itself.

Japanese beauty gadgets

Japanese beauty tools are everywhere, from innovations meant to exercise your face muscles, to spooky-looking masks, breast gymnastics massagers, nose beauty lifts to knee brightening foams.

Sauna face mask. The mask is supposed to tense your muscles and make your face sweat, hence resulting in a slimmer face cut.

Aside from that, within every 3 meters of walking any street there are multiple drugstores with a dizzying number of beauty bottles, tonics, emulsions and packs at every corner. Skin conditioners, skin softening, deep cleansing are the main pillars of Japanese skincare regimes and they are known for their quality, effectivity and innovation.

I got to know a couple of traditional Japanese cosmetic brands as well, those of which use old Japanese beauty practices such as silkworm cocoons and the rich camellia oil for hair.

The Food Scene (My Favorite): Navigating Japan’s Food Wonders

There’s hardly a corner in Tokyo that isn’t peppered with stalls, labels, posters and displays of food. I was mostly interested in eating like a local and trying out unusual things. We wondered the narrow streets of Ginza with a very wide range of restaurants. Japanese food is so diverse we wanted to have a bite of everything! There is much more to classic Japanese food than what we are used to having (like tempura, ramen, and sushi) as Japanese cuisine is steeped in culture and all about artistry. The Japanese make the most out of natural flavors and sparingly use any spices, fats, or red meats , therefore it is considered healthy and typical Japanese food tastes vastly different in texture and flavor when compared to other cuisines.

Initially we were on the lookout for a Yakitori Restaurant which serves traditional Japanese grilled skewers of meat and vegetables. However, we ended up in a different cozy restaurant by mistake which served Japanese “Shabu Shabu”.

The Japanese “Fondue”: Shabu Shabu DIY cooking

Upon entering, we were seated on a high-chair table resembling a bar which was lined with boiling “hot pots” of soup. The chef then served us a fresh spread of raw vegetables and thinly sliced A5 grade Wagyu beef.

We were also given special utensils to make a sesame-based sauce for dipping. The fun part was being in total control of your ingredients once you start throwing them in to the steaming pot to cook. When you drop in a slice of Wagyu it momentarily simmers and cooks within seconds before melting in your mouth. I loved this dining experience. It’s great for sharing, and it’s light and healthy.

The chef demonstrating the Shabu Shabu for us

At first, the big spread of beef slices might come off as a large portion but it disappears before you even realize it. That’s how light it is! The guys seated next to us had those slices coming one after the other.

Interviewed by Japanese TV

To our surprise, there was a camera crew present on sight at the restaurant as well. We stood out as foreigners and I guess they were intrigued by us. The interviewee and the cameraman approached us and asked if we wanted to participate in their show on Otaku TV by answering a couple of their questions about our Japanese dining experience as tourists. They documented our dining experience and asked all kinds of questions ranging from how our food back in Kuwait compares, how we discovered Shabu Shabu, to what we enjoyed most about the whole experience. It was a very interested encounter! I’ve yet to receive the coverage from the TV station 🙂

Japanese plastic food models (Sampuru)

Looking so good you could eat them

Strolling the streets of Japan, we would often find menu displays of “dish replicas” at restaurants which actually look highly realistic and very interesting to look at.

They are so popular, that they come in keychains and have even turned into a fashion business with designs for accessories and phone cases!

It’s a really interesting phenomenon unique to Japanese culture. The food models look like culinary art forms! The life-like replicas are actually not that far from reality, and the exquisite amount of details makes them perfect at giving you a very close idea of what your dish will look like. Picking out something to eat as we walk by a restaurant is like going through an art exhibition and there are actual craftsmen behind these models that paint and sculpture them to look as delicious as possible. Interestingly, plastic food models were invented by a Japanese man called Takizo Iwasaki in the 1800’s.

I can see why these cute-looking dishes and imitation of food aesthetics can turn into a collecting hobby as there is an enormous wide variety of them which are all tempting to have!

Akiko Obata holds the Guiness record for the largest collection of food replicas! (taken from Google)

Food illusions…

There are Sampuru workshops around too where tourists can sculpt and paint their very own plastic food dish and master the art of faking it. It’s practically like a real kitchen where every element keeps the aspect of its original, except for the taste!

A Sampuru workshop for kids

A ramen vending machine at a restaurant

The Sweet sides of Japanese: Wagashi & Dango

In Japan, if you’re craving something sweet you are most likely to indulge in typical Japanese desserts. One of these is called Wagashi made out of Mochi (rice pounded into paste). With each season comes different flavors. Since I was in the Sakura season, I tried the Sakura mochi which is a type of Wagashi. It’s definitely an acquired taste I would say. The glutinous rice ball is wrapped with a Sakura leaf which has a pickled taste to it, while the rice is chewy and sweet with a savory bean paste filling.

Another type of Wagashi

Most of the desserts are really pretty and colorful to look at!

Back to Shiodome, Minato

Japan’s tiny futuristic cubes in Shimbashi (Nakagin)

While on a night time stroll in Shimbashi district, I decided to take my husband to see the famous unusual capsule concrete structure known in Japan. It looked quite spooky at night and had somewhat of a decaying facade but very cool nevertheless! At first, we tried to access it and when we inquired the security guard about it we assumed we could just pass by inside and have a look but he mentioned it being an apartment complex. So, these capsules are actually residences and few people live in them. Some have turned into offices as well. It was built in the 1970’s and the 70’s interior remains the same and during that time it was marketed as living quarters. The cubes were designed in such a way that they were meant to be detached and replaced with new ones. People back then perceived the capsule building as an optimistic symbol of a Utopian sci-fi ideal. Sadly, what the structure used to represent has sadly been forgotten and now it stands as solely an icon of the past.

Japan’s Museum of Advertising

This museum was one of our many highlights and told us so much about the history of Japanese advertising. The very first thing that impressed me was the museum’s method of presenting and displaying the information, which was very engaging, catchy, and innovative.

The first room featured decorative advertisements and actual artifacts of the Edo Period. The practice of handing out flyers and promoting business venues was already popular back then and overtime the museum shows how these marketing tools have adapted to changing times.

Samples of old promotional flyers and posters from the Edo Period

You might think advertising wasn’t so advanced back then but the museum proves you otherwise. People in the past were actually very creative with their tools in order to visually attract customers to their shops, by using handcrafted shop signs to perfect the art of advertising.

Different types of ADs were like various forms of art

The very first AD for the famous Japanese cosmetics brand Sheseido

Then came a wonderful display giving insight into the newspaper period in Japan, followed by the major introduction of mass media such as radio, television, newspapers and magazines.

A fascinating part of the museum was the 2000’s, which showed how items and products changed with society. Different ADs portrayed the evolution of societal ideologies as new technological platforms emerged. It also showed the way consumer culture and lifestyles evolved in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s to the present 21st century. The whole museum is like one giant timeline. My favorite part was a large screen displaying ADs from the past to present. It really changes your perspective when you look at how advertising accelerated throughout the years.

OWL CAFE (AKIFA FUKUROU): A CRAZE UNIQUE TO JAPAN

Owls…the mysterious creatures of the night featured in tales of magical realism. In literature and filmography, they are majestic creatures imbued with mystery. With their somewhat enchanting calls that echo through the night and charismatic faces, most cultures hail owls as symbols of wisdom, good luck and fortune. The Japanese word for owls is Fukurou, which literally translates to luck.my long-time favorite animal for as long as I can remember. As an owl collector (of figurines, trinkets, postcards, paintings and so on), I eventually found myself in an Owl Cafe!

Japan isn’t short of bizarrely-themed cafes. From Maid Cafés, the world’s first cat café and even hedgehog cafes, at the heart of Tokyo lies Japan’s popular Owl Café, Akiba Fukurou, which is home to 25 distinct species of owls. In the world’s most hi-tech metropolis at Akihabara street, I was about to re-connect with nature in the most unusual way. As an owl lover, this was going to be an immensely interesting and special one-of-a-kind experience.

Being as popular as they are, I was eager to successfully secure a spot at the café which meant an hour of up-close and personal time with these beautiful birds.

Before entering we were given a brief tutorial on owl-handling with an adorable introduction to the owl family tree. We entered a relaxed little mellow café with serene owls tethered on to long perches around the walls, some snoozing while others widely alert of their surroundings.

Each owl has a name and presumably a personality ranging from social, defensive, quiet, to moody. One of the rules cautioned to us was to remain as quiet as possible with no sudden movements, therefore everyone had to resort to whispering. We were told that we could gently pat them on the head or beaks with our pinkie fingers.

Utterly transfixed by the whole bizarre experience, it was time for everyone to select a favorite to hold and interact with. There are several baby owlets to much bigger and intimidating ones for every comfort level and every owl fan. I was particularly drawn to the white owls. Apparently the one I fancied had quite a bit of a defensive attitude, as told by the coach. Therefore, I took back my decision and picked another white one that was friendlier and relatively social. The coach gently took him off from the bar he was resting on and with his help carefully placed him on my arm. By that time I totally forgot that we were in a café and didn’t even end up ordering a drink! (couldn’t imagine holding an owl on one arm and a drink in my hand on the other).

The Owl Cafe

The beautiful owl I made friends with!

The whole encounter had a very calming effect, and I felt a special connection being so close to a beautiful and wild predator staring right at me with curiosity. It seemed so comfortable on my shoulder, that I was suddenly taken aback when it decided to pounce on top of my head and stay there! I tried not to think of it as much of a big deal and the coach asked if I was okay. With time, he said it would be better to take him away as it could get dangerous with those claws! Overall, I would go as far as saying it was a transcendent one-hour experience. As an owl fanatic, I can totally check this off my list now!

Dangerously good: Beard Papa’s cream puffs

Whenever we entered the subway on the way to our next route, we always walked passed an irresistible aroma of vanilla and bakery. It was impossible not to lure you in. These are the fresh and creamy puffs made by “Beard Papa’s”. Our senses were automatically overwhelmed by the warm, sugary smell. My husband and I would instantly turn to each other with that look of “Are you craving one too?” I originally thought they are Japan-based but actually they are a bakery in New York and I think someone should bring the franchise to Kuwait for me to get my fix every now and then! The first ones we tried were the cookies & cream puffs. Light, flaky, crunchy and sweet on the outside, and creamy and luscious on the inside with whipped cream and custard fillings that overall tastes like a homemade creation.

AKIHABARA ELECTRIC TOWN:

THE GEEKY SIDE OF TOKYO

The one district that we were overly excited to visit is the famed Akihabara, known for being a haven of games, electronics, gadgets, anime, manga and model kits. At first sight, the place feels overwhelming as your senses are assaulted in all directions from the colorful billboards emitting neon glows and Japanese pop flaring from screens on high-rise buildings. There’s certainly a lot to take in!

There are numerous shops with Nintendo merchandise, I went crazy for Super Mario!

There are huge electronics stores such as Softmap and laox.

One of our visits included a stop at Super Potato, known for retro video games and gadgets with unique vintage finds, it’s practically a candy shop for geeks offering vintage game cartridges with rows of retro consoles, All in all, it’s the ultimate place to experience Geek culture at full force.

On the way through Akihabara there are toy arcades at every stop, which became our newfound addiction in Japan. These are located in Game Centers, featuring “Crane machines” offering a chance to snag limited edition toys and figurines of well-known anime characters which make great souvenirs to take back home. To catch one, it’s surprisingly difficult but so satisfying when we finally did! (mostly with a generous and friendly helping hand from the staff working there!).

One of the little things I fell in love with are also their model kits. These are small packaged house or stores that you need to assemble yourself. It takes some precision and persistence to finish the entire model but the results are simply amazing and satisfying and look great on a shelf!

Maid Cafes

If you are in Tokyo, you will inevitably stumble upon the famous Maid Cafes. As we strolled the streets of Akihabara, we were cheerfully greeted by a girl dressed in a maid costume. Full of energy, she guided us to the cafe upstairs where we were greeted by more waitresses dressed up as maids who jumped with enthusiasm once we entered. Adopting child-like anime voices, cutesy gestures and overly girly behavior, the waitresses mostly spoke in Japanese and rarely a word of English. As we were seated, they handed us a menu of cute-looking desserts and bunny ears to wear. It really did feel like we were being served by characters from a manga comic! We chose to have some ice cream which was adorably decorated with playful designs and messages.

At the end, we were asked to take a polaroid photo with the maids for memories, which is dated and signed by the maid. However, in general no photos were allowed to be taken within the cafe. Overall it was a very unusual and funny experience. My husband and I couldn’t stop laughing the entire time and enjoyed it a lot!

Pablo’s CheeseCake: Japan’s cheesecake cult

Very popular in Japan are Pablo cheesecakes. These freshly prepared cheese tarts originated in Osaka and come in classic cheese, matcha flavor, chocolate and Sakura (and probably many more seasonal flavors). The first time we heard of them was online, as it seems that they actually went viral on social media. Once you take a bite, it’s gooey and creamy in the inside. There’s usually a long queue for these in every branch!

Sightseeing with Mario Karts

Wishing to live the the real-life Mario Kart experience? Tokyo offers a private go-karting Mario-themed tour. We didn’t have an international driving license with us at the time otherwise we would have definitely tried the experience!

Shinjuku District: The city that never sleeps

Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku’s Night Life District

Laser lights, electronic music, and a crazy robotic show. We ascended up the techni-colored psychedelic stairway and took our seats with our flashing light bulb juice.

At the beginning, a dancing troupe made their grand entrance with drums, followed by complex choreographed dancing replete with giant robots and special effects all of which resembled a Japanese festival of robots.

I guess you could say it’s the Moulin Rouge of Japan. The cabaret-style show is themed around the future of technology, with performers dressed as robots and moving vehicles and large-scale robots move on stage using a remote control. The stage was pretty tight, which meant the machines were very close to the audience. It was a joyfully chaotic atmosphere of non-stop madness and entertainment! It was definitely a one-of-a-kind thrilling experience.

Japanese Artisan Bakeries

During our time in Japan, we were in for an unexpected treat; Japanese pastries. The European-inspired baked goods actually made it to the land of rice and before visiting Japan, pastries wasn’t something that came to mind. Buying bread at bakeries in Japan comes in self-service style, and the array of offerings are really delicious. For breakfast, we loaded our trays with choices of quiche, salmon and cream cheese tarts, custards puffs, to sausage rolls all freshly-made and packaged to enjoy on the go or during a quick trip in the metro.

Ueno District

Ueno Zoo: The Oldest Zoo in Japan

Known for it’s giant beloved pandas and urban zoological park, Ueno Zoo dates back to 1880 and houses 2500 animals with 450 species. Actually, it was pouring rain when we got there!

The most unusual animals for me were the gorillas and the elusive panda. When we reached the zoo, we immediately caught sight of a really long line queuing up to see a nursery of panda cubs. There was no way to get in line as you needed to purchase tickets in advance and they were already sold out. So we moved on to the section which houses the giant panda, brought all the way from China. Again, it was in a very far and glass-enclosed space that we hardly had a good look at it, also aside from the fact that others were also trying to catch a glimpse.

Spirited away at the Ghibli Animation Museum : Hayao Miyazaki

Tickets to the museum are extremely limited and it was hard to get it. The museum is dedicated to the studio’s work and the beautiful world of Japanese animation.

Ever since I watched Spirited Away and House of the Fireflies I instantly became a big fan of Ghibli Studios. It’s a wonderful work of art on imagination and storytelling and truly a treasured gem in cinematography. Anything Ghibli related I instantly bought as a souvenir! One of my favorite things is the paper theatre, which is a paper craft kit that recreates famous scenes of various characters by assembling together laser cut paper parts.

Odaiba District: Tokyo’s artificial Island

The man-made Island on Tokyo Bay houses many shopping malls and entertainment districts. I personally loved Odaiba, it was one my favorite districts which I found to have elements of futuristic, unique, and even strange.

One of the first things we noticed was a giant replica of New York’s Statue of Liberty overlooking the bay with a rainbow bridge sweeping across a view of Odaiba’s skyline.

The Shamisen

When we just arrived, there was a booth with a lady dressed in traditional Japanese attire teaching a little boy the Japanese guitar. As we stood there, the lady beckoned to us to try it too. In my hands, I held a 3 stringed instrument known as Shamisen which is a type of Japanese guitar. It is said to be heard in most traditional Japanese songs in Kabuki theaters and Geisha performances. Resembling a banjo, the strings are made of silk thread contributing to it’s unique sounds. It is actually quite easy to play once I got the hand of it. It takes a degree of good muscle memory and rhythm to get it right!

Sega Joypolis: Tokyo’s largest indoor theme park

One place to be completely immersed is Joypolis, a really fun entertainment district. With the latest Virtual Reality attractions where you can take down attacking zombies, indoor rides, to many more thrilling horror games. One of the aspects I enjoyed in this place most is traditional Japanese horror. Their culture is replete with horrors, and they have a library of ghost tales, monsters, and spirits to draw upon.

The original Japanese Resident Evil experience.

: One of my favorite games: Ace Attorney

Miraikan: The National Museum of Emerging Science & Technology

The geo-sphere is the symbol of the museum. Made up of LED screens, it displays the most updated state of the earth as it is seen from space in real-time. Only one of it’s kind in the world.

Miraikan is the place where we experienced Japan’s cutting-edge technology. There are over 200 exhibits that are overseen and designed by active scientists. Everywhere you look, people (including children) are focused and engaged. From issues faced by our planet Earth to solutions to better living, Miraikan is a source of scientific inspiration, excitement and exploration.

You can ride this personal mobility device called the Uni-Cub by Honda. You can use it to move around the museum!

Robots: Our future

The museum also has several showcases of android robots. One of them is an Otonaroid, which is a hybrid of a human and android! They are eerily life-like, and a real person is used a template to create them. She can move her eyes and blink, make eyebrow movements, sync her lips to audio, and replicate other human facial expressions. From their smooth silicon skin to eloquent articulations, some of these robots are even used to help customers at museums, shoppings malls and airports.

Japanese robotics expert, inventor, and professor in Osaka University at Intelligent Robotics Laboratory, Hiroshi Ishiguro says he uses research on human interaction and data on what differentiates humans and robots by examining the question of “what is emotion, what is awareness, and what is thinking.”

Thought-provoking questions by scientists

A fascinating exhibition we enjoyed called “Odors fill the world”. It draws on the most recent research on our sense of smell. Visitors can actually smell a number of odors on display and learn about the mechanisms through which our noses capture scents. Odors range from stinky ones to much more pleasant ones.

The Space & Exploration section

Astronauts’ food

Time for lunch

After a fun and educational time, we walked to a nearby popular shopping mall called Aqua City to choose from a variety of restaurants (love this part!).

We sat at a traditional/modern restaurant overlooking Odaiba’s skyline and ordered some soba noodles with a side of soup and Japanese grilled skewers (Yakitori) with a grilled rice ball (Yaki Onigiri).

Bite-sized Yakitori of mushrooms, minced chicken, fish and meat.

Soba noodles a very a historic Japanese dish and the practice of making them is centuries old. Made from Buckwheat, they are high in nutrients and low on fat giving it a distinctive earthy flavor and can be eaten either hot or cold.

Yakitori are charcoal-grilled and one of the most popular ways to each them is from different parts of a chicken such as liver, heart, wings and breast which are brushed with a special sauce before grilled.

The Yaki Onigiri rice balls are a national snack favorite and it’s said to be found in every Japanese kid’s school lunchbox. This snack goes back to Samurai times, when the Samurai carried Onigiri balls in bamboo leaves. The fire adds a crisp to the rice creating a delicious crust!

Gundam

A jaw-dropping experience was the life-sized Gundam statue, one of Odaiba’s biggest attractions. I was surprised at the sheer size of the full scale statue which stands at 18 meters tall.

I think it would have been really cool if Gundam demonstrated some movements to make it look even more realistic! I am sure with Japan’s technology, they will eventually figure out how to get it to walk!

On the Way to Toyota City Museum

Part car showcase, part amusement center and part automobile museum, the place explores the various facets of Toyota’s automobile brand. The entire point of the center is to look, ride, and feel the cars. I am not much of an automobile enthusiast, however I did enjoy the museum’s “History Garage” section displaying vintage cars from the 1950’s to 1970’s, chronicling Toyota’s past.

I liked the overall feel of the interior decor showcasing the selection of cars. It is a walk-through exhibition fashioned in a way to resemble the streets of a small town in 1950’s America with similar evocative settings. The smallest details were taken into consideration, with shop window displays of retro books and children’s toys, a vintage coke vending machine, and even a replica of an old Japanese home. It was interesting to notice all the detailing of the exhibition which added a lot of authenticity to the overall place.

An old Japanese home in the 1950’s

Another good morning in Odaiba

Tulip Time

Apart from the beautiful cherry blossom season that comes with Spring, there is another flower festival known in Odaiba that is a highly notable spring wonder. The promenade park becomes home to 20,000 planted tulips in full bloom. The flower beds are are really beautiful and I’ve never seen so many tulips in my life in one place!

I learned that Tulips are considered to be the luxury flower of Japan available only to the elite in the past.

Roppongi Hills District

Street Art – A Giant Spider called Maman

One of the best views from the deck of Mori Tower, offering a 360 vista of Tokyo.

From Mori Tower, we visited the Mori Art Museum, which focused on contemporary Asian and international art through innovative exhibitions of modern art.

A quick lunch

Yokohama China Town

If there was one word to assign to China Town, it would be FOOD. We did get the feeling like we had just wandered into China and the most fun part was browsing the expansive area of bright Chinese shops and temples tucked in between all the bustle. Everywhere we looked there were steaming buns, dim sums and noodles!

Most restaurants had a dizzying array of menu displays of with various styles of specialty Chinese cuisine.

To Kyoto…Chapter 2

Event Recap: Korean Cooking Class at Madang Cultural Center in Kuwait

Published by halyoosha

One of my bucket list of things to do this month as May draws to a close was to experience a cooking class with my 5-year-old daughter, a mother-daughter adventure into a different cuisine especially one that, to my little one’s delight, involved Kimbap and crispy fried chicken.

Yesterday, on a quiet evening, we booked a Korean cooking class with Madang Cultural Center. The class focused on two traditional dishes – kimbap and dakgangjeong chicken. We were told by the Korean hosts that these are two popular snacks enjoyed in the summer season when picnicking is a cherished activity.

We began with kimbap, a dish that closely resembles sushi. The difference between both rolls is that Kimbap rice is seasoned with sesame oil, salt and pepper, while sushi rice is seasoned with vinegar. Another prominent distinction is that Kimbap contains only cooked ingredients. Kimbap is also noticeably thicker when sliced because of a larger filling.

We started by carefully slicing carrots and cucumbers into thin strips. The carrots were briefly cooked to soften them. Next, we laid everything out: glossy sheets of seaweed, thin leeks, Korean pickles (called danmuji), fried seasoned tofu strips, and a folded omelette.

There’s an art to assembling kimbap. We spread a thin layer of seasoned rice onto the seaweed, gently pressing it with our fingertips. The rice, warm and slightly sticky, acted as the glue that binds the roll together. The host told me that you can tell how professional one is at Kimbaps by the amount of rice they use, where just the right proportion is applied.

With bamboo mats in hand, we gently pressed and rolled our kimbaps, giggling at our slightly wobbly first attempts. Then, after a brush of sesame oil, we cut them up into thick slices.

After a short break to sample our kimbaps, we proceeded with dakgangjeong—a sweet, sticky, and crunchy Korean fried chicken dish, glazed in a sauce that strikes a perfect balance between soy, garlic, subtle heat and crunch. First, we prepared the sweet and spicy gochujang chilli sauce until it bubble and thickened with soy sauce, sesame oil and ketchup. After we double-fried the battered chicken, we tossed it in the sauce and sprinkled the dish with crushed peanuts.

Between steps, my daughter would dash off to play with the other children, laughter echoing from the corners. She’d return with flushed cheeks and bright eyes, just in time to help lay out another ingredient or roll the next piece of Kimbap.

And that, was an evening of shared learning. The rhythm of cooking together. For the rest of the evening, we tasted our handiwork and got to take some home to enjoy as well!

Abu Dhabi Trip to Yas Island: SeaWorld and WB

Published by halyoosha

Over the weekend we decided to go jaunting in Abu Dhabi and spend time in Yas Island at the Hilton Curio Warner Brothers Hotel. The hotel is a great option for kids and has three entertainment parks in the vicinity including Warner Brothers Theme Park, Seaworld, Waterpark and Ferrari World. The two former theme parks are indoors while the waterpark is outdoors and we opted out of it since the weather was leaning towards the hotter side and we also skipped Ferrari World as our daughter is too young to enjoy the rides.

A cool LED screen on both sides of the lobby displaying animations and music at the hotel.

During our hotel stay, we were always greeted with the infamous Looney Tunes squad like Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny and the interactions were always a joy for our daughter. The hotel itself is sprinkled with cinematic artworks and memorabilia from the Warner Bros Production which were fun to spot.

The hotel overlooking the WB theme park.

Dumb and Dumber, one of the frames displayed in the hotel’s corridors

Warner Brothers Theme Park

Upon arrival, our first stop was the Warner Brothers indoor theme park and one of the greatest perks is that the park is adjacent to the hotel. We were also given a free pass to visit two places per day which was another bonus during our stay. Even though we visited during the weekend, the queues were surprisingly non-existent in the morning and well into the afternoon. I was told beforehand that lines tend to get crazy and so it was preferable to get a fast pass, but we didn’t end up needing it which made the experience that much more nice.

Once inside the theme park, you are under a virtual dynamic sky with sectioned immersive worlds featuring Flintstones, Superman in Metropolis, Batman’s Gotham City, the Cartoon Junction as well as the central plaza for shopping, dining and live shows.

A very cool feature is the virtual sky which transforms into day and night, it’s a show in and of itself.

Our 4-year old daughter loves rollercoasters so she got her fix here and had a blast. Sometimes, there were height restrictions on certain rides but her dad could accompany her. From whizzing around in the Tom and Jerry cheese coaster to Daffy Duck’s bouncing pogo-stick ride, it was amusing and entertaining to step into the realms of cartoons.

I was actually quite surprised at how kid-friendly most of the Warner Brothers rollercoaster rides are for a 4 year old, most of which would have restrictions placed back in Kuwait’s theme parks.

The Cartoon Junction

Tom & Jerry’s furnished house complete with a built-in rollercoaster ride.

We stepped into the Cartoon Junction world where we met Tom and Jerry and Scooby Doo. The Scooby Doo house features a tour around a creepy house complete with spooky hallways and a living room resembling a cabinet of curiosities and other museum artefacts.

As we meandered through the house and scary corridors, we reached the actual ride that recreates one of the classic Scooby Doo stories using animatronics. A cool feature that as the ride moves long, there’s an integrated laser-like gun that you use to point and trigger targets around you causing them to move to tell the story.

Gotham City

The entertainment at Gotham City is darker and a bit more challenging as one would expect. Personally I loved the feel of the place as it truly captured the gritty atmosphere of the Batman movies through dilapidated buildings of urban decay and a brooding landscape. We first entered the Joker Funhouse which is a mystery hallway leading up to a mirror maze, moving floors, and “traps” in an attempt to escape the joker. I couldn’t enter because you had to have closed shoes on and I was wearing sandals, so my daughter and husband went in. The joker visuals ended up frightening my daughter so she didn’t like this one.

A row of posters depicting the villains of Batman world.

Lunch at the Main Plaza

Towards the end we had lunch at Starlight dining serving international cuisine along with character appearances by Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes characters. The dishes were great and I liked how it wasn’t just the typical “kids theme park fried food” consisting of fries, nuggets and ketchup, but decent meals like Spaghetti Bolognese, mac and cheese croquettes, and seafood.

Our daughter elated to meet Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny!

Batman tweety in a merchandise shop in Gotham City

The Looney Tunes Live Stage Show

Right after our meal, the plaza was getting ready to host a live Warner Brothers show. The show brings to live all the Looney Tunes characters on stage with a musical number and comedic skits. Moreover, there were also choreographed dance routines so the ambiance was very energetic and fun. In this case the scenario was a basketball competition between two Looney Tunes teams and the kids in the audience cheered for their favourite squad.

Back at the Hotel

Once we returned back to our room by late afternoon, we had a swim at the hotel’s pool. I really like the kid’s splash area and cute little dedicated lounging area for them with a screen showcasing Scooby Doo cartoons, it’s a nice touch.

SeaWorld Adventures!

The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel’s “Sidekick” restaurant designed for kids. It’s basically a cartoon-inspired place with a children’s buffet and Looney Tunes visitors coming to say hi.

We took a short 8-minute car ride to reach Seaworld.

I came to know that officials from Guinness World Records recently announced that SeaWorld Yas Island has been named the “Largest Indoor Marine-Life Theme Park” in the world.

Seaworld is huge and it is estimated to take as long as 5-6 hours to fully explore it. The place is divided into different marine realms and a central area where they all connect. Some of the themes to explore are the Abu Dhabi ocean, Polar Arctic, and Tropical Ocean to name a few.

Aside from observing animals, there are also experiences such as the dolphin show, pearl-diving presentation, animal feeding sessions and tide pool touch tanks where you can come in contact with some marine creatures under the guidance of a marina biologist. There were also a couple of roller coaster rides like the Eel Racer.

A massive screen encircles the main hub.

At the Polar Ocean realm watching a Walrus munch on ice!

Some of the activities and experiences had a timetable, so either we were lucky enough to be there on schedule or we were exploring the giant aquarium elsewhere. We happened to be nearby one of the activities early on which was the Dolphin show and we got good seats. Before we knew it, the stadium was filled to the brim. We got our pop corn and some hot chocolate as we were still warming up after the penguin encounter at the Polar realm.

The show showcased the intelligence, agility, and playfulness of dolphins in a choreographed performance, while also educated the audience about marine life and conservation efforts. What’s more is that we enjoyed lots of splashes at the front row!

One of the other experiences was a live performance on pearl-diving retelling the history of the trade with humorous drama. The narrator told the story of the challenges and the nature of the pearl diving practice. A cool feature is the theatrical aquarium they used in the background as the story unfolded.

*boop*. I love how curious this fish was.

Emperor Penguins at the Arctic Ocean

The immersive penguin exhibit allowed us to closely observe and learn about the emperor penguins in an environment that closely mimics their natural Antarctic habitat, therefore the area was below zero degrees Celsius and we were freezing in our summer clothing.

There was also a feeding demonstration showcasing the penguin’s diets and how they’re fed.

Wrap up

And that summarises our trip to Yas Island. It was such a great experience and I loved re-living childhood again with my daughter and most importantly seeing her excitement and joy in meeting her favourite characters and experiencing their world!

If you would like to read some of my other travel stories you can click here.

Recap: Shakshooka Market – My experience as a vendor.

Published by halyoosha

Last weekend I participated at Kuwait’s Shakshooka Market, the third and final of the season. The market took place at the Andalus Complex and attracted a variety of unique local vendors and curious visitors who arrived to sample food and explore the arts and crafts community. Unlike a lot of markets in Kuwait which are food-centric, it was nice to experience a market that wasn’t just about eating. Shakshooka found a way to make both food and art work in harmony and consequently the visitors embraced both.

I had participated in Shakshooka during it’s first launch and Yadawi glass crafts was kind enough to let me share a booth with them so I got a taste of market life. The second time around, I participated on my own where I showcased my handmade paper collection, prints and framed artwork. The booth tent was spacious and well-supplied with a table, chairs, lights, and POS machine. Once everything was set up, we had a great time!

Setting everything up was a little challenging and overwhelming but there were staff around to help provide a trolley and load the heavy things before the market began. My 4 year old daughter was with me at the time as I wanted her to experience the market with me too.

The market drew quite a big crowd and continued into the evening. Sometimes it was difficult to take breaks, explore the other booths or grab a snack as people kept flowing in passing by my table. I also liked how nearby booths were like neighbours having conversations and offering company and help to one another.

Sadeer Farms who sold lots of beautiful sunflowers!

One of the snacks I got – chicken wonton from Phet Phet Thai food.

Overall, it was a nice change of perspective from visiting markets to actually being part of one and also getting to explore the connection that people have with my artwork! Shakshooka has been one of the best markets I’ve been to and I look forward to the next season!

Event Recap: Hanji & Hansik Korean Kashta

Published by halyoosha

Over the weekend, my daughter and I got to experience a wonderful Korean-style Kashta experience with the Madang Korean Cultural Center in Kuwait. To the readers who are new to the term “Kashta”, it is defined as a “Kuwaiti tradition of enjoying a picnic in the open desert away from busy life.”

The event took place next to the seaside on the grassy fields of Safir Fintas Hotel and even though it wasn’t in a desert, the entire experience did capture the feel and ambiance of a kashta.

We arrived a little late, but were just on time to observe the Hanji crafts laid out on the tables. A while back, I had written about our Hanji workshop experience at the Madang cultural centre. Hanji is basically the Korean word for traditional handmade paper made in Korea, and it is then used to make elaborate sculptures and artistic objects like lamps.

Crafts made from Hanji paper, such as lamps and jewellery boxes.

After the crafting sessions, we took a food break and were presented with a delicious array of Korean specialties and favourites, especially street foods.

Preparing the meat, also known as Galbi which is a marinated short rib.

On left, spicy chicken skewers and Korean fried veggie dumplings called Mandu. On the right, Galbi short ribs in a lettuce wrap.

For dessert, Hotteok – Korean sweet pancakes stuffed with walnuts.

We savoured the food inside cozy bubble tents and as the sun set, everything was illuminated and the campfire was lit up.

There was also a nice, spacious playground area for kids next to a “wooded” area.

This was a lovely experience with a mingling of art, food, socialising, culture and ambiance which is honestly one of the best combinations for any kind of event. I hope to see many more events and experiences like this in Kuwait that embrace these qualities!

My Paper-making Journey: Why make paper?

Published by halyoosha

I became intrigued by paper-making ever since I started drawing. One common question I get asked is why make paper when there’s already an abundance of it? There are many reasons. I make paper because I enjoy the mindful process, I acknowledged the benefits of recycling something that would otherwise be discarded, and I love the handcrafted feel of handmade paper.

I began collecting and then transforming grocery paper bags into usable sheets of paper. Now, family and friends have become my suppliers and save any paper bags from their shopping trips to pass on for recycling. And so, we launched a paper-making cycle!

The first step involved in turning simple paper bags into beautiful sheets of paper is preparing the fibers, tearing and shredding them into smaller pieces to ensure they blend smoothly into paper pulp, or a paper slurry.

Next, comes the blending process, a mesmerizing dance between the fibers and water. The blender swirls the fibers into a smooth, frothy suspension. I pour the pulp into a vat with water and gently scoop up a layer of fibers with a mold and deckle, tilting and shaking the mold to ensure an even distribution. I then lift the mold, revealing a delicate translucent sheet of paper.

Soaked paper in a vat, submerged overnight

Afterwards, the couching process follows where I transform the fibers into a tangible sheet of paper, a very delicate transfer of the wet sheet from the mold to the felt pad.

The final stage is drying, a patient waiting game as the paper surrenders its moisture to the air. The next day, I find the dry and crisp sheets, slightly textured.

Each fiber, once discarded, had played a vital role in creating this unique and meaningful object that can be used for artistic purposes. The paper was more than just a material; it was a symbol of creativity, sustainability, and the transformative power of turning one object into another.

I opened my eyes to the potential of transformation that lies within everyday materials.

Here are some of the ways I used the handmade paper!

A handmade calendar I worked on for 2024

Hanji Workshop at the New Korean Cultural Center in Kuwait

Published by halyoosha

Over the weekend my daughter and I visited the new Korean Cultural Center in Sharq, Kuwait City, which recently opened it’s doors inside Kamco Tower in May 2023

The center is called Madang which means ‘traditional courtyard’ in Korean, and it houses several class rooms and offices that host arts and crafts workshops as well as Korean language courses. It’s a really nice-looking place and because they are still brand new, there are several programs and activities underway.

They also have a library filled with children’s book in Korean.

I had booked the Hanji Craftswork workshop and my daughter came a long with me. Hanji is the traditional handmade paper of Korea, and it is made from the inner bark of the mulberry which is a tree native to Korea.

In this workshop, we were going to use this paper to decorate a traditional tray.

The supplies, which consist of water glue, brush, tape, tray die-cut, hanji paper

We were first given a brief video introduction on the history and art of Hanji.

Hanji paper is made by extracting the tree bark, soaking it, boiling it, and beating it until it forms a pulp.

My daughter was given some paper with Korean images to colour in

We started the workshop by first assembling the tray using tape. Then, we used the ready-made cut outs of hanji paper to brush the glue onto the tray until it was completely covered in Hanji. It sounds simple, but it was a little tricky ensuring that the paper adheres smoothly and evenly across the tray. If there was any excess paper that needed to be cut, we were advised to tear it rather than cut it in order to give the tray a handmade appearance.

Because we used water glue we could also brush it all over so that the paper adheres clings well to the tray, acting like a lacquer which gives it a nice finishing in the end.

The activity itself reminded me of decoupaging, which is the art of decorating an object by gluing together colourful patterns of paper.

The tray was then placed next to a fan to dry.

These traditional Hanji trays are used for storing snacks like biscuits and chocolate, or can be propped vertically like a frame on a shelf.

This was a nice experience and I loved that my daughter and I got to do our first workshop together!

Ukrainian Cookware in Kuwait!

Published by halyoosha

We recently stumbled upon a hole-in-the-wall shop in Mangaf that sells Ukrainian cookware, the vintage-looking kind that my grandparents used back in Ukraine.

The place is located by a road next to a row of stores, one of them with a black and white signage titled “ابو سعود”.

There is an array of cooking pots, trays, tea pots and mugs all made in Ukraine.

I picked up a couple of these cooking pots, primarily for making stews, porridges, soups and cottage cheese. They are all made of metal and coated with enamel inside and out. Due to that, the pots heat up quickly and evenly, as well as hold the warmness for a prolonged period.

It’s not recommended to fry things in them as they are coated in enamel and that can chip, deeming the cookware unsafe to use because it exposes the metal underneath. This will comprise the functionality of the cookware as the unprotected metal core can leak harmful ingredients into the food.

For this reason I inspected each pot carefully before purchasing it to ensure that it wasn’t chipped in the slightest bit.

Teapots hanging from above. Some made in Ukraine while others are Slovenian

Here I am cooking a staple grain in Ukraine called Buckwheat, with some butter!

The Best Places to Visit Animals in Kuwait

Published by halyoosha

The main place we’ve ever known to get up close with animals here in Kuwait used to be Kuwait Zoo. Since the zoo has been closed for years for unknown reasons other than renovations, I have noticed numerous places popping up featuring opportunities to see animals, especially ones that we can pet and approach.

I have made a list of the places we have taken our daughter to so far. The spots include indoor and outdoor ones.

Scientific Centre- Indoors

To those who are new to Kuwait, Scientific Centre is an educational facility housing an aquarium, wildlife and ecosystems, an IMAX movie theatre as well as Discovery Place for Kids. The centre is situated by the Gulf seaside and there’s a beautiful walkway leading up to it that people enjoy trekking through.

We love frequenting the place and it has always been one of our favourite spots to go to for a relaxing time. It’s just all in all a very atmospheric venue.

Recently, the Scientific Centre added an animal petting corner inside the aquarium zone.

Depending on the time, one of the staff members appear to educate and show children a variety of animals. Every 15-20 minutes or so, a new animal is brought out and showcased.

My daughter interacting with a desert hedgehog

That day we petted a garden snail and I only then did I discover that snails are actually hermaphrodites (they possess both male and female sex organs) and produce their own shells from the calcium released through their skin . For some reason after our encounter with one, I realised that they’re pretty cute!

Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Center (ASCC) – Indoors

This is another great museum that covers ecosystems, space exploration, Earth, and the human body. The complex doesn’t feature as many live animals as the scientific Center, but does have a large aquarium and mostly exhibits marine animals.

Aquamarine Exotic (Indoors)

This is another interesting venue. Aquamarine Exotic initially opened as an aquarium supplies store but then expanded to house animals.

I had shared a detailed blog post about our visit to Aquamarine Exotic here.

The store initially introduced Koi fish feeding and after that opened a new premises nearby with a variety of exotic animals.

Some of the animals there are baby barn owls, a crow, hedgehogs, chameleons, a range of birds and even white racoon dogs to name a few.

Little Jungle (winter season – outdoors)

Little Jungle resembles a zoo and is quite close to a replacement for Kuwait Zoo at the time being. It’s a vast, open space to walk around and look at animals, ones that you would normally find in a zoo like giraffes, ostriches, and zebras. Some up close animal encounters include holding turtles, petting parrots, and even cuddling with Pomeranians.

Pomeranian kennel. There are so many of them!

Al Bohayra Farm (winter season – outdoors)

Al Bohayra Farm gets busy during the peak winter season, but it’s an expansive farm with numerous activities to do such as exploring the land and crops, shopping at the farmer’s market, looking at farm animals, riding ponies and horses, and there’s even a mini zoo for petting animals.

Once you enter, you are greeted by camels, goats, sheep, horses and donkeys. You are given some greens (for a fee) to feed the animals as you walk further into the farm.

Al Murooj Farm (outdoors)

This is probably the latest addition to animal encounters. Murooj is actually a restaurant complex located next to an Equestrian Club in Sabah Al Salem. They also have a great outdoor playground for kids and recently added a nice little farm experience. There is a fenced off area at the center with animals roaming around and they’re accessible for the public to interact with. Some animals include bunnies, an iguana, ostrich, and baby goats to name a couple. What set this experience apart is how we weren’t enclosed from the animals, but could approach them and pet them safely as they wandered freely.

Mega Pet Zones in Al Rai near Avenues Mall

The Megastore by Pet zone is a giant one. The first floor is divided into feeds for all kinds of animals imaginable (even primates), while the other section is devoted to all things cats and dogs, including a grooming center/pet salon.

The first section is also the one that has a couple of live animals to see, some of which are racoons, owls, toucans, small turtles, a large selection of fish, and I was even surprised to see a squirrel. They were fun for my daughter to look a, but at the same time it felt strange seeing these large animals caged especially since most of them weren’t for sale but just there for spectacle.

The second floor is another level that hosts birthday parties for kids.

And that sums up all the places to see animals in Kuwait!

Visiting Kuwait’s Bait Al Othman Museum: The Old Kuwait

Published by halyoosha

I only recently started visiting the Bait Al Othman Museum and I love going back. The museum itself is large and we picked up on heaps of new details and pieces of information with each visit. There’s just a great deal to see and notice.

There was something eery about us being the only visitors in the museum. For as long as we paid the museum a visit (four times), we were always alone having the museum entirely to ourselves whether in the mornings or evenings. My presumptions tell me that either everyone has already been to the museum or they’re just not that interested in Kuwait’s history as much as we are! The museum has been around for 10 years.

As you first enter the gateway (1KD for a ticket), you are greeted with a big square of what resembles an indoor courtyard encircled with Kuwaiti shops of the past. To your right you will also see a cute souvenir shop upon entry which I highly recommend to look through. We once purchased a big lidded KDD Chocolate Milk (favourite childhood drink) box and now store candies inside. If you’re looking for a great souvenir of Kuwait, this is probably one of the best little shops.

A couple of handmade dioramas of old Kuwaiti craftsmanships

A small old Kuwaiti dhow also stands in the courtyard and you can get onboard and have a look at it inside.

This is not a diorama! This is actually a life-sized replica of an old convenience store (baqala in Arabic)

A couple of full-scale models of old Kuwait shops are on view around the courtyard. I loved looking through all the details of the items.

The courtyard has several entryways and paths that take you to different sections of the museum. Each portion or division itself hosts several rooms displaying the history of it. A couple of examples are military(and professions), media rooms/ministry of information, pearl-diving and fishing, family life, and there’s even a scientific area with taxidermies and preservations. For a first time visit, it could get a little confusing with all the twists and turns around the museum. Even on our third visit, there were rooms we stumbled upon that we hadn’t seen the first or second times. There is a lot to discover and many antique items.

Coffee cups and “dallahs” which are the coffee jugs

A diwaniya setting at home, which is a reception/gathering where men receive male guests to converse over tea or coffee.

A model of an outdoor set up of what would typically be found in an old Kuwaiti home in the courtyard.

What a crib looked like in a Kuwaiti home in the past

The entire pearl-diving room is built in such a way that you’re walking around an old ship, which is a cool touch. I also liked how some of the rooms are filled with audio and sound effects, like divers singing the songs of the sea.

The pearl-diving and sea-faring section showcased divers’ clothes, tools, and pearls. Before the discovery of oil, Kuwait rose from humble beginnings and initially sustained itself with pearl-diving which peaked and thrived between 1895 and 1915. The dependence on pearls eventually waned after the invention of the cultured pearl and the oil boom.

Some retro national posters of the Gulf War between 1990-1991

A section of the museum covered the Ministry of Information and the shows and programs that used to be broadcasted on Kuwait TV.

The room displays several screens featuring a playback of famous local “masrahiyas”, which are popular drama theatres. The room also showcases the costumes worn by national icons during their theatrical performances in the 80’s as well as in cinema. There’s also a real life display of what the old Kuwait TV studio rooms looked like.

An old candy shop where you can purchase nostalgic childhood candy and crisps.

The Camping Section

There’s an entire space dedicated to camping as well. The place looks like it’s housed in a large tent and has birds and quails running around too.

Taxidermy

The taxidermy section was also interesting. The two floors have several rooms accommodating various animals on display.

Haunted House!

There’s a hallway that also leads to a haunted room (which is cheesy).

And that wraps up this blog post! There is a lot more to see at the museum and I shared only portions of it. I highly recommend visiting the place if you would like a thorough look at Kuwait before the discovery of oil. It’s a national treasure!

Motherhood: FIVE Favourite Unique Activities with my 3 Year Old Daughter.

Published by halyoosha

We wake up early morning, usually 7am. I open my eyes and my daughter is smiling back at me, just awoken too. By now our biological clocks have become in sync and it’s beautiful. “Good morning mamy!” she says cheerfully. The excitement and enthusiasm of our child to start the day is always contagious no matter what. “Where are we going today?” Mayoosha asks me. We lay in bed as I talk to her about all the things we are going to do. “Yaaaay!” she tells me brightly.

We get up to brush our teeth together and Mayoosha loves picking out her outfits each time. Even though we have our little disagreements about what should be worn that day, Mayoosha insists on wearing her favourite bunny summer dress or glittery skirt she picked out at the store that day, despite me telling her it’ll be too cold out and that all her stockings are in the laundry. Style conversations stretch over the fields of why’s, how’s, and where’s for several minutes until we arrive at a fashion consensus!

At her age, Mayoosha also proudly loves to help in the kitchen and wear her chef’s apron. She cracks the eggs, makes an omelette and brews two cups of tea superbly well (a spoonful of honey is a must!).

We also have a routine where we start a new kind of learning activity daily. I always tend to keep a long list of exercises, activities and themes I would like to cover with her.

In this post, I am going to share a couple of favourites that nurture developmental skills at 3 years old.

ROLE-PLAYING: POST OFFICE

Role-play has been our daughter’s utmost favourite activity. I love seeing her play pretend and imagine taking on a profession, character or scenario.

One of the top reasons why role-play is essential is that it encourages creativity and imagination.
Moreover, since role-playing almost always involves two-way play, it enhances communication skills that can also be implemented in real life later on. Mayoosha tends to take on the active role while I am the passenger, the guest, the customer, or the student for instance. Therefore, she conveys the main messages which builds confidence in interactions. It’s also a great vocabulary builder.
Related to point two, role-play also strengthens social skills.

Some great role-play themes have been:

Post office

Hair/Beauty Salon

Airplane (pilot, flight attendant and passenger)

School (Teacher and student)

Supermarket shop (selling and buying)

Restaurant (cooking food and serving)

We have even switched roles for laughs where Mayoosha was me (mama), and I pretended to be Mayoosha.

When playing post office, Mayoosha enjoyed wrapping some of the items while I kept the other objects as surprises to have fun unwrapping. She enjoyed writing letters as we waited in the other room for her to deliver them. It was really cute opening the letters and seeing her little messages or drawings. We took turns working at the post office and Mayoosha loved opening our letters for her too.

Then there’s the element of surprise when unraveling the package.

Post office pretend play:

Kraft paper and envelopes

Scissors

Stamps or washi tape stamps

Stickers

Twine

Little bell

Pen and letter paper

A variety of surprise items to wrap

Basket

Post office role-play. We wrapped parcels together using kraft paper and twine.

2) CUTTING FLOWERS

Ever since Mayoosha started practicing with scissors, she’s been enjoying cutting a variety of things, whether it’s hair, opening a chocolate wrapper, threads, paper and so on.

If you have a dried bouquet, save it! I was going to cut the flower (rose) heads and use them for arts and crafts later on, so I told Mayoosha to help me out and use her scissor-cutting skills to snip them. Since the flowers are drier and more brittle than fresh stems, it makes for easier cutting.

3) SENSORY: ‘COOKING’ with SLIME

My daughter was always interested in slime. Each time we enter a toy shop, slime was the first thing she wanted to look for. I avoided slime activities in general because of how messy they get and only allowed it occasionally. There are different kinds of slime, meaning each type differed in consistency. Therefore, some slime tended to be stickier and harder to clean up than others.

However, I spotted this one nice slime box set in Fantasy World and decided to purchase it for Mayoosha. I totally understand the fascination now. The texture is hard to resist haha! Lots of pulling, stretching squishing, rolling, and twisting! There are so many benefits including getting creative like adding in ‘ingredients’ such as beads, foam balls, pompoms, and glitter into the slime.

One of the ways that Mayoosha loves playing with slime is pretending to cook with it and making a recipe. She gets a toy pot from her kitchen and starts adding in batches of slime and combining ‘ingredients’ into it. She mixes the concoction with her hands and spends endless time feeling the textures and ‘kneading’ in elements. At this age, kids continue to enjoy the tactile and feel of different textures.

When playing with slime, it is best to use an empty activity table and lay out a washable mat that you can wipe clean quickly.

4) STEM ACTIVITY: PLAY DOUGH AND TOOTHPICK STRUCTURES.

This activity occupied Mayoosha for a while since she loves play dough in general.

There are printables of various structures to build from that are more suitable for older kids. In Mayoosha’s case, we just focused on open-ended play and assembled something simple like a little house, cube or pyramid in 3D although they can also be 2D shapes

I first rolled a couple of play dough balls in preparation, and Mayoosha practiced rolling the balls with her palms too.

We then had fun connecting the play dough balls together using the toothpicks, which you need to becareful with too.

5) BICYCLE RIDES

This is more of an outdoor sports activity. I highly suggest starting to get a bicycle with training wheels from 3 years old. Prior to that, Mayoosha used a tricycle.

The bicycle we got is by B-TWINS from the Decathlon store (in Kuwait). I loved how the bicycle was equipped with everything and you can choose to include “add-ons” like a basket, bell, water bottle holder, and a doll seat at the back. The bike also comes with front and back lights for nighttime rides.

The small training wheels at the back serve as balancing wheels. Whenever Mayoosha accelerates her speed the training wheels become suspended above the ground allowing her to get a feel for balance. It is a super safe, quality bike and sturdy. I also see the bicycle as one of the stepping stones to independence and offers the freedom and confidence to get around (with mom and dad of course!) as it is essentially a vehicle.

I believe this is one of the best active activities that a preschooler can participate in.

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