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HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 1
HalaBahrainHalaBahrain MagazineMagazine
Your Local Bahraini Guide!
Apr 2009 - Volume 1 - Issue 10
Events & Events &
HappeningsHappenings We cover the Bahrain We cover the Bahrain
Car Show, fashion Car Show, fashion
events, and more!events, and more!
Yasmin Al HilliYasmin Al Hilli
We talk to the race driver,
football manager, agent
and much more!
Places to Go
Things to Do
Events
Tradition
And much more!
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 2
HalaBahrainHalaBahrain MagazineMagazine Lifestyle - Technology -
Entertainment - Events ©
Keeping Busy!Keeping Busy! Dear Readers,
What a crazy month it’s been. Everything from auto shows, to
events and parties, the Spring of Culture, torrential rain and
extreme dust storms! April looks set to be just as busy (with
hopefully less extreme weather changes).
This issue, we’ve covered quite a bit of what’s going on around
the country, and spent quite a bit of time at the BIC, with the
Bahrain Motor Show going on, and Speed Trip, a great event
with all proceeds going to charity, and will be spending more
time as F1 edges closer. We’ve also caught up with Fashion for
a Cause, which is another exciting event with a charitable
cause. Check out what we’ve covered in this months pages.
This issue we talk to Yasmin Al Hilli, a very inspiring personality
whose done a little bit of everything. Again, we would love to
hear from you about anything; send us your emails with
thoughts about the magazine, letters, ideas, and let us know
what you’re thinking!
Till next time,
Ammar Al-Aradi
Editor In-Chief
The Team
Editor-in-Chief
Ammar Al-Aradi
Creative Director
Fardan Raffi
Public Relations
Amal Fareed
Copyright Information © All Rights reserved. This
publication may not be
reproduced or transmitted in
any form in whole or in part
without the written permission
of the publisher. Liability: While
every care has been taken in
the preparation of this
magazine, the publishers
cannot be held responsible for
the accuracy of the
information herein, or any
consequence arising it.
HalaBahrain is a fully registered
online publication with the
Bahrain Ministry of Information,
under registration number
EQHBH210
HalaBahrain is published
monthly; to view the magazine,
for a free subscription, or to
download a copy, please visit
www.halabahrain.com. For
advertising and all enquiries,
please contact
www.HalaBahrain.com
Editorial
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 3
International Garden Show
Location: Bahrain Exhibition Center
Contact: +973 - 17558826
News, Events News, Events
& Happenings& Happenings Obviously Formula One fever has taken
over the country, with F1 car images on ads
and posters around town, events related to
F1 taking place, people talking about it on
TV, radio, etc.. But that doesn’t mean that’s
all Bahrain is about this month! Nope, there’s a LOT going on, and as people from all over the world
fly in to our little island, the events and entertainment continue!
Lots of parties happening around the weekends, from the FTV and Nikki Beach parties on the 10th,
bringing you a dash of exclusivity and a touch of glamour too. We also have Kyau & Albert, rated on
the list of top DJ’s in the world, performing here on the 23rd. Numerous parties will be going on all
around Bahrain through different venues, clubs, so there’s quite a lot to do for the party-goer!
It’s not all music and dancing though; for those looking for something closer to nature, catch the
Garden Show at the Exhibition Center for an oasis of greenery. There’s also a Boat Show bringing
together top-of-the-line boats, yachts, jet-skis, along with watersports, shows and more! And if the sea
is your thing, make sure to check out (and maybe participate) at the Raft Race in Al Bander; it’s for a
good cause, all proceeds go towards various charities in Bahrain. Omid Djalili, the famous Persian
comic will bring laughs to the crowds on the 23rd, and Rage to the Extreme will bring together
rockers and metal-heads from around the gulf to one place to battle it out for the title of best band.
Definitely a lot to do this month!
17-19 April
Upcoming
21-25 April
Omid Djalili Live
Location: Crowne Plaza
Timing: 6:00pm-10:00pm
Contact: +973-17297040
23 April
Boat Show
Location: Amwaj Marina
Contact: +973-17533532
10 April
Nikki Beach Party
Location: Private Island - Ritz Carlton
Timing: 12:30pm-10:30pm
Contact: +973-17310407
Raft Race
Location: Al Bander Resort
Email: +973-17584612
1 May
Kyau & Albert Live in Bahrain
Location: Mercure Grand Hotel
Contact: +973-39857359
30 April
Rage to the EXTREME
Location: The Palace
Timing: 4:00pm-2:00am
Contact: [email protected]
Fashion TV Casting
Location: Coral Beach Club
Timing: 2:00pm-8:00pm
Contact: +973-36318893
24-26 April
Bahrain F1 Race 2009
Location: Bahrain Int’l Circuit
Email: +973-17450000
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 4
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 5
Got something to say? Anything specific you’d like to see in Got something to say? Anything specific you’d like to see in
the magazine? Or maybe you just love our magazine? Hate it? the magazine? Or maybe you just love our magazine? Hate it?
Or just need someone to talk to? Whatever it is, let us know, Or just need someone to talk to? Whatever it is, let us know,
email us on: email us on: [email protected]@halabahrain.com
————
FROM: Jamal Zaman
SUBJECT: Very Nice
Just came across the mag,
and I must say it’s a really
creative concept, I read it at
work all the time since I’m
always infront of my PC and
don’t have time for regular
mags! Keep up the great
work guys!
Thanks Jamal, we’re not sure
how we feel about our mag
being a source of distraction
at your job.. Actually we do,
it’s great! Keep reading
while on the job (as long as
your boss doesn’t find out!)
————
FROM: Lamya
SUBJECT: Love it!
I love your magazine, and
the photography section
was very cool too! I always
have problems with photos
in dark areas, can you help?
We got a bunch of emails
stating how much they liked
that section, so not to worry!
We’ll try to grab Aziza to give
you all a photo tips section
every issue :) Watch for it
next month!
————
FROM: Silent Jedi
SUBJECT: Weather
The weather sucks. How do
you explain that?
Err. We don’t. Do you?
————
FROM: Moeen
SUBJECT: Cover
The Desert Rock cover was
amazing! Love how our flag
was all over the place!
Yeah, it was sort of epic!
Bahrain Flag & Chimera :)
————
FROM: Halle
SUBJECT: Spring of Culture
How come you didn’t put
anything up about the
Spring of Culture?
Well, Halle, every other
magazine and newspaper in
Bahrain seems to have that
covered, so we’d rather not
repeat what’s been said a
thousand times! Let them
cover the SOC, we’ll cover
everything else!
————
FROM: Wafa
SUBJECT: Chub :)
Chub :)
We seriously do get the
weirdest emails from people
sometimes.
————
FROM: Stevie Y
SUBJECT: Congrats
Congrats on the new mag!
We’ve been running for
almost a year now dude...
HalaBahrain MailHalaBahrain Mail Mail
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 6
BIC EventsBIC Events Want to be blown away? Speed Trip happens once a year and brings together
some of the craziest cars, exotics and much more in one place. And lucky us, this
year it took place at the BIC! The event, which runs over two days, sends invites
out to a number of VIP’s to attend and race their vehicles on track, with stunt
shows, music and entertainment in between. All proceeds from this exclusive
event are for charity, so a great event, for a great cause!
Not only that, but the Bahrain Motor Show took place on the 3rd & 4th of the
month, brining together everything from monster trucks, to classic cars, to racers,
to much more, all in a fully fledged family event. An amazing day out! If you
missed it, just make sure you don’t miss the Formula One race later this month!
Events
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 7
Events
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 8
Events
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 9
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 10
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 11
Events
RedBull Paper WingsRedBull Paper Wings RedBull have put together the paper wings
competition, in which people from all over the
world compete to create the best paper plane;
how far it flies, how long it stays in the air, the best design, etc. A fun day for all, and the winners compete
with the worlds best paper plane builders! And you thought paper planes weren’t serious business?
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 12
Events Fashion for a CauseFashion for a Cause Held at Sawani Restaurant, Fashion for a Cause was just that;
brining some of the hottest models sporting the latest fashions,
all in the name of raising money for charity! A great event with
a greater cause. After a night of catwalks, guests were
treated to a full dinner, DJ and more!
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 13
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 14
Totally Zained
After almost a year of
renovations, the new
Zain flagship store in
Seef is open! And it’s
more than just your
average store; infor-
mation, entertainment, a place to have a coffee and
bite, style your phone, and more! With an opening that
everyone in Seef noticed, the place is definitely worth a
visit!
Weather
As if it wasn’t bad
enough last month, the
weather in March took on
all shapes and colors,
shifting from cold to hot,
clear to dusty, dry to humid,
all within the space of a few
days! People started getting
confused about whether or not to take their cars to the
carwash, others about what to wear when they go out, etc.
Four seasons in one month, where else but Bahrain? :)
News
Bahrain NewsBahrain News
Wanna Be a VIP?
The Select Few is a new
concept for party lovers
in Bahrain. Sign up and
become a member, and
get access to top of the
line, VIP member only
events! Not sure whether
out tiny island has enough people to uphold such a
London/Los Angeles type concept, but let’s watch and
see! The next event is the Nikki Beach party, held on the
Ritz Carlton private island. Should be fun, so see you
there!
Hope for Music!
It’s tough to find good
outlets for getting music in
Bahrain. Sure, we have a
few shops that sell
cassettes and CD’s, but
let’s be honest, who really
uses those anymore?
UrFilez is a new brand
bringing everyone the chance to get their music
anywhere, anytime, and even gives an opportunity
for local musicians to have their music pushed out
and distributed! Launching officially sometime in April,
this is something to watch out for!
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 15
Kyau & Albert
Watch out for the official F1 Pre-Party, on the 23rd
of April 2009! Kyau & Albert, rated as some of the
top DJ’s in the world, will be performing in Bahrain to
a huge crowd at Mercure Hotel. Don’t expect the
venue to be your average run-of-the-mill party. There’s
something special here which you’ll have to see for
yourself!
Organized by Beats4Life and Dallah Promotions, this
event is destined to be a sure hit! For info and tickets, call
+973-39957359, or +973-36695933.
News
Race Your Voice!
Although a small island, Bahrain
has a lot of talent, ranging
from musicians to many others.
Although support for these
artists is usually hard to come
by, the Bahrain International
Circuit is giving local musicians
a great opportunity to get their music heard!
Together along with BahrainTalent.com and UrFilez.com, the
BIC has offered musicians the chance to record a track for
this years Bahrain F1 race, based around this years’ theme
‘Where the Heart Is’. The tracks have been submitted and
are being shortlisted, with the final winner to be announced
soon! For more information, check out BahrainTalent.com
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 16
See Everyone in Bahrain!
And if it isn’t so obvious, you have to be at the F1 race!
Practically everyone in Bahrain can be seen there,
making for a great day out of waving hello to everyone.
Bound to help you work those muscles!
News
Why BIC?Why BIC?
Cosmopolitanism
For the race, Bahrain suddenly turns into a melting pot of
people from all over the
world! You can meet with
nationalities that you never
expected would ever arrive
in town, and with them they
bring stories and tales of a
faraway distant land (ahem.
Ed.)
Safer Drivers
We used to have a lot of crazy street racers out on
the roads, especially during late nights. Not so much
after the BIC opened; with a full list of activities for
adrenaline thrill-seekers,
such as drag racing,
burnout competitions,
stunt shows, circuit
races and more, these
people finally have a
safe environment to
channel their motor-oil
induced energy!
Now in it’s 6th year, the Bahrain F1 race has come a
long way! In turn, the race has done a lot for the
country, and has really moved things around Bahrain.
Here are a few reasons you should be proud to have
the BIC and F1 race here!
Events & Entertainment
The month leading up
to F1 in Bahrain is usually
full of events, celebrations,
offers, and much more!
The shops also have special
offers specifically for the race, so make sure your wallet is
loaded when you go out! Always something to do, so no
excuses about not having anything to do!
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 17
Visit the world of hidden
Bahraini Talents...
www.BahrainTalent.com
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 18
Although it is one of Bahrain's most important
historical sites, Bahrain Fort really doesn't get near
as much attention as it deserves. Although very
near to downtown Manama, the fort feels very
isolated from the hustle and bustle of the rest of
Bahrain.
The actual fort was built around the early 1500's, but
the whole site is an archaeological treasure; recent
excavation work has shown it to be composed of
layer over layer of settlements, the earliest dating
back to somewhere around 2300BC, when the area
was the capital of Dilmun (the ancient civilization that
existed on the island).
The fort itself was built by the Portuguese as a military
base, as they took over Bahrain to help protect their
trade routes between India, Africa and Europe.
Although quite eroded, you can still see and get an
idea of what the old settlements used to look like. The
view from the top of the fort is also a beauty and a bit
of a contrast, as one side faces old villages and
greenery, while the other looks at the fast rising towers
and developments of Manama.
Tradition
Bahrain FortBahrain Fort
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 19
Bahrain was labeled the Island of a Million Palm Trees
years ago, but nowadays you see most of it displaced
to make way for new buildings, towers and so on.
Visiting Bahrain Fort takes you right out of the urban
development and back to a simpler time, where the
surrounding villages are covered in lush greenery and
palm trees, while the houses are reminiscent of the
older days.
The fort is open to visitors between 8:00am and 8:00pm
throughout the week, and entrance is free.
Tradition
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 20
Growing up in Bahrain, it’s easy to get caught up
in the flow of things. The typical path for anyone
raised here is to go to school, go to college, and
then work one of a very specific set of jobs; these
are usually jobs in banking, healthcare, teaching,
law, engineering, etc. Very few actually take the
initiative to split from the regular path, and follow
their heart.
Yasmin Al Hilli is one of these people; not content
with following the regular path, she went out to
follow her passion for motor racing and sports,
and achieved much along the way. We caught
up with her for a quick chat to ask about what
she does, how she got there, and her inspirations.
Local Talent
Yasmin Al HilliYasmin Al Hilli
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 21
Local Talent
- So Yasmin, we hear you do a little bit of everything; motorsports,
events, sports, etc.. What is it that you do exactly?
Yeah, I suppose I am scattered! I have tried many different career
paths.. I started as a coach for under-17 boys (basketball), then got
into racing, I then dabbled in events and now have pretty much
settled into a sports management role.
- Not the usual path most people take! The majority here seem to
finish school, then end up working in a bank, hospital, etc. How did
you end up in motorsports?
It was never planned! I was always into cars, did a bit of help as a
marshal, and then decided that I wanted to race, so I did it!
- It’s great to see that initiative! You’re one of the very few, if not only,
females who’ve driven rally cars in this region. Why do you think there
aren’t more girls doing the same?
I think that’s because it’s a very expensive hobby! I had a very hard
time acquiring sponsorships at the time, until I proved myself, and
even then it was quite difficult. I opened the door for women to race,
but I’m very disappointed that hardly any followed in my path.
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 22
- True, let’s hope to see more as time goes by. So do you still race?
Unfortunately, I had a car accident preparing for the rally season, and hurt my back badly, so that put me out of the hot seat.
- That’s a shame. We’re sure that didn’t stop you from doing what you love though; what did you do next?
I went for my next love, football, and became an agent!
- Interesting! How did you get into that?
Well, I worked as general manager of West Riffa Club for a short period of time before leaving to do consultancy with Muharraq,
where I stayed for 3 seasons. During that time I got my license from FIFA, and through that became the first woman in the GCC to
be licensed by FIFA to be a players agent.
HalaBahrain Magazine | April 2009 23
Local Talent
- Very inspiring. What are you doing with it now?
I now represent some of the of the top footballer players in the Gulf, and have done some consultancy work for some of the top teams
in the GCC region.
- Was it difficult getting into these fields and staying there? And what sort of challenges
prevent women in general from moving into these fields of work?
It was very difficult, as these fields are very male dominated (football, motor racing). I thank Muharraq Club for helping me to learn all
about the ins and outs of the game, administration, laws etc. If it wasn’t for some of the people there giving me some of their valuable
time, I don’t think I would be the person that I am today.
- So what are you involved with at the moment, besides sports?
At the moment I have no time for anything BUT football!
- It’s very inspiring to hear your story. What does the future hold for Yazzi?
I’m just an example that, if you have a dream, you can make it happen. Nothing is impossible if you put your heart into it! As for my
future, I’ll leave it to God - he has watched over me and taken good care, and I know that my future can only get a whole lot better!
- Lovely talking to you Yasmin, thanks for your time!
Thank you!