Laysh

Alan Bennett, the screenwriter and the man who read out the adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland to me when I was all of seven, once spoke about why reading is so unlike anything else in wide world. He elaborates “The best moments in reading are when you come across something – a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things – that you’d thought special, particular to you. And here it is, set down by someone else, a person you’ve never met, maybe even someone long dead. And it’s as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.” 

How many times have you felt this feeling of transcendence, when you are here and there at the same time? That, is the magic of reading.

Nowadays, it feels as though reading has been reduced to status updates on popular networking sites. People “don’t have the time”, and are busy on their (not-so)smartphone; a device that sadly doesn’t facilitate reading like it should.

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These are just some of the thoughts that Uzair had in mind before embarking on Laysh,  an initiative which picks up one of world’s oldest hobbies and packs it with a fresh approach.

So what is Laysh all about? To tell us more, we caught up with Uzair Mohammed, chief curator of TedxYouth@Doha and one of the active minds behind this project. 

Here’s what he had to say:

Q: Laysh as an initiative, how did it all begin?

TEDxYD and Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Project were hoping to work together ever since the first edition of TEDxYouth@Doha. When we finally did sit down and brainstorm ideas of launching a project, one of the first ideas that came up, turned out to be (what is now known as) Laysh.

Q: What do you aim to achieve from this project?

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Reading is obviously a critical element of any child's education. The challenge is to cultivate it within young people as a passion rather than what it is seen as today (in Qatar, at least) by youth, i.e. a chore.

By hearing perspectives from all sides of the debate, from young and old, we hope to create a maelstrom of ideas, thoughts, and perspectives on the positives and ills of reading- hoping that in the end, we are able to address youth with these messages. 

Q: Why did you pick reading over other popular interests?

TEDxYouth@Doha focuses on developing critical skills within youth- public speaking, writing, speaking, and reading. We consider these skills a bedrock for youth development. Combine TEDxYouth@Doha's approach with the aspirations of Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing in Qatar, and reading was a natural topic for us to engage over. 

Q: What has the response been so far?

The response has been excellent, actually. We have had tremendous interest from youth community leaders many of whom have chosen to join us as Laysh mentors and record videos for the campaign. Additionally, we have schools taking part in the project and we expect lots of entries to start pouring in quite soon. 

Q: Why a video about reading instead of a write up about reading?

I think that we have to start engaging youth where they live and breathe. Making a video is simple, it doesn't require much prep, you don't have to be worried about spelling mistakes or that your composition skills may not be up to par. In making a video, you can express yourself in any way you wish. If you wish to shoot or direct a film instead, someone can do that. If someone does not want to appear on video, they can choose not to. If someone wants to create a beautiful piece of art, they can do that, and someone else like me who has no video editing skills whatsoever can also just turn their smartphone around and record their thoughts for 2mins. Videos are also much easier to share through Facebook and Twitter. Making a video today is accessible, easy, and fun. That answers the video part of your question.

The other side of it is that youth aren't writing too much either. That is just as hard a reality as the stats on reading. We chose to address reading this time. 

Q: To the founders of the idea: What were the last three books you read and why did it make you feel like reading is essential enough to make it a cause?

Lana Shamma - Acting Director of Writing & Development - Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing: The Girl Who Fell to Earth by Sophia Al-Maria; A Country Called Amreeka by Alia Malek; and Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami.

As cheesy as it may sound I think that reading is a formative part of my life. The books I read growing up helped me create a sense of who I am, who I want to be, and where I want to go. To this day, I can fully immerse myself in a book and not notice what's going on around me. I hope that this generation of kids is able to activate their imaginations in the same way.

Uzair Mohammad - Chief Curator, TEDxYouth@Doha: I have recently read/am reading: Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman; A History of Iniquity by Jorge Luis Borges; and Enter Phlebas by Iain M. Banks. Whether these books sparked a cause is putting too much pressure on too few books. I think though that reading allows us to imagine a world through other voices, in detail. Rarely do we get a view of someone else's life/ideas/thoughts in such depth- this is true for fiction, non-fiction, educational, and art books. These varied voices, ideas, words, and phrases allow our own voice to develop- leading us towards better expression of our own thoughts/ideas/life- whatever shape that expression takes. That's my take on it, at least.

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Reading is a boon we take for granted and we are absolutely thrilled to see refreshing projects like Laysh in Qatar!

Uploading a Laysh video is very simple. All you have to do is visit the website, fill in details and add files. We strongly recommend you do!

For more information about the project and to know how to get involved you can visit their page here: http://laysh.org

The 7 Must Watch T.V Shows

Every week, with all the work, socializing and networking, comes a time when all you want to do is order some take-out food, get into comfortable clothing and catch up with the stories of people living a life that we all would love to live in an alternate universe where everything is almost perfect. Yes, it’s time to watch some TV! We conducted an anonymous survey and our readers love them all, from romantic comedies to suspense dramas!  Here is a list of 7 sitcoms that our readers highly suggest:  

                                                  

                                                       7) Madmen

Our readers love this show which depicts the world of advertising in the 1960’s and how a guy with the whole package (a genius at work with extremely good looks) struggles to compete with his fellow peers to stay ahead of the changing dynamics of the advertising world.  Madmen is the best show in the field of advertising as it beautifully captures the essence of the corporate world of advertising full of  ego,  pride and the mad race amongst the fellow workers with fresh and innovative ideas. 

6) Walking Dead 

This TV show, based on a comic, depicts an era where a group of humans are struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by flesh-eating zombies called "walkers". Apart from the usual horror shows, Walking Dead not only gives you goose bumps but also, unexpectedly, takes you on an emotional ride. 

5) The Big Bang Theory

The smart and witty comparisons made with science and the video games make it a favorite show for geeks who love science and also for video game lovers. However, this show has a little something for all audiences. Not all people get the comedy in this sitcom but whoever gets it, loves the show. With mixed reviews from the audiences, this show has still made it to our top 7 list. That is a reason to check the show out and decide if this sitcom tickles your funny bone or not!

4) The Modern Family

This comedic mockumentary highlights the most common dilemmas faced by a family in the modern society. Based on the Pritchett Family, this sitcom depicts the daily hurdles faced by a parent and the kids while growing up which pretty much sums up many versions of a “modern family”. What makes this show so unique is that this family lives with all the possible stereotypes ranging from the old rich man married to a hot young wife to a gay couple adopting an Asian child and these 20 minute episodes display how the family copes up with this on a everyday basis.

3) Breaking Bad

On losing hope, a common man can turn devious for the survival of his family. Breaking Bad, a crime series, illustrates this journey of a common man into the dangerous world of Meth Industry. An important aspect of Breaking Bad is that it does not condone drug use nor glorify the criminals that surround it. Easily considered among the best TV Shows ever written, Breaking Bad is nothing like you've ever seen before and therefore a Must Watch!

2) Suits

Suits, as the name suggests, is a serious drama revolving around the life of a lawyer in one of the top firms in New York. Apart from the stunningly good looking lawyers, this TV show is very well written with perfect amount of sharp dialogues, entertaining drama and emotions.  The light sense of humor between the lawyers makes the show even more likable by our audiences. 

 1) Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones, (but of course!) `an epic fantasy drama, is based on a series of a fantasy novel and our readers believe that the show is equally good or even better than the books. As per the survey, this is the must watch show. Depicting the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, this show is an escape to another era where members of several noble houses fight for the Iron Throne. 


 Do you agree with this list? What are your must-watch TV shows?

California Tortilla - Grand Opening

The Grand opening of California Tortilla was an interesting affair that had to be mentioned in our diaries. We were  thrilled to be invited to this exclusive soiree! 

Doha was in dire need of a place that served good Mexican food, and we are beginning to think this might be the end of our search. As we entered, we were handed stick-on moustaches which we could not resist trying out. The ambiance of the restaurant is diner-ish, very easy and comfortable. No muss no fuss. As we looked around we realized that all the tables were occupied. The evening was clearly a hit already.

As we were waiting for the tables, the Mexican Live Band started playing a song full of energy that occupied us. There were many busy tables and a lot of people were left standing, but this did not bother us as much. Eventually, we (finally) found ourselves a place to sit down. Soon after, a server walked up holding a tray loaded with chicken and meat burritos. They were just brilliant. The light bread was soft and delicious, filled with chicken/meat, flavoured rice and refried beans all seasoned perfectly. Since it was the opening and the food was meant to be tasted, the burritos were fun sized. We decided to call them the “three-bite-burritos” since we, with our raging appetites, could finish each in 3 bites and could not resist having more. We noticed that there were no vegetarian options, which was quickly rectified after we pointed it out to the servers and a vegetarian “three-bite-burrito” was brought to our table on a platter which was just as good as the non-veg alternatives. Joy oh joy.

Still shaking to the tunes of the lively band, we were definitely ready for more. We looked around expectantly and a large plate of fresh tortilla chips was brought to us. The chips were still warm as if pulled out of the oven a little while ago and they were delightfully crunchy. This was when we noticed the Wall of Flame. The Wall of Flame is a cupboard loaded with different kinds of sauces in varying degrees of hotness. We decided to go all out and tried everything possible from the not so spicy Ginger Peach sauce to the tongue, throat and stomach set on fire traditional Chipotle based sauce. It was a whole different kind of adventure as we started to explore the various flavoured sauces when a server stopped by again and handed us some salsa and the house guacamole. The guacamole was our favorite; the chunks of avocado, tomatoes, onions spiced with garlic and lime went well with the tortillas. Although the chips and burritos earned good marks from our end, we were hoping there would be more variety!

A special mention about the Servers of the night, they completed our dining experience. They were attentive, cheerful, swift and handled the crowd with ease.

Though we struggled to find seating and got bored with the chips after a while, we are definitely intrigued with the place. It is an easy, location friendly restaurant that is definitely going to be on our food radar!

We reviewed just the opening night, so we haven't included the entire menu. Would you like us to review the restaurant for you?

 

California Tortilla is located at C Ring road at the Ramada Junction, right opposite Chilis

Meal for two: Approx 100 QAR

Doha Diaries reviews are not sponsored. 

Spa Love

Shaily Agarwal, a long time resident of Doha, says that one of her favorite past times in Doha is trying out the different hotel spas around the city (We love her already!) Undoubtedly one of the best ways to unwind and unplug, a good spa treatment can leave you feeling like a new person. Shaily tells Doha Diaries about her favorite Spa treatments here in Qatar!

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The weather has been really fine this past week. For those of us who like to be out and about, the rains made the breeze crisp and the mood lighter. A lot of things can be unpredictable when you are a busy working professional. But something that is guaranteed to leave you refreshed is a nice, long day of spa indulgence.

For those of us who love the summer and have been a little disappointed about not being able to go to the beach or get that sun-kissed skin, hold your thoughts, for the summer is just around the corner! In this upcoming month temperatures will go higher and the heat will be up. You are going to crave that pleasant stream of water and that wonderful feeling of being pampered. Summer or not, we all love a day of rejuvenation, don't we?

And this is why, through Doha Diaries, I am giving you a quick snap shot of some of the most relaxing spas I have been to in and around the city. From mid-level to the expensive range, take your pick and see what suits you best!

The Movenpick Spa 

Situated on the 26th floor of the Movenpick Hotel, the Bayview 26 Wellness Centre boasts a wonderful view of the Corniche along the sea, and the Doha city while you sit in the warm Jacuzzi. I have tried the Aromatherapy Massage that is about the most soothing and relaxing massage there is. The staff is very nice and the rooms are neat and clean. Additional facilities include hot indoor pool, fully equipped gym, steam room and showers. All of this for QR 400 – that’s really not a bad deal for an entire day of respite!

Summer is approaching – what more can you want? Book your appointment here right away!


Angsana Spa 

Housed in the Wyndham Regency, the Angsana Spa is a cozy retreat in the middle of the busting city. It provided you with access to a small swimming pool with water baths next to it. I tried out their hydrotherapy - a mix of showers at different temperatures with sound effects – and their bliss package, which I highly recommend to you! It has everything a girl would want for her day out – a massage, a facial, and a wrap. What makes everything special is their customer service. They are ever so friendly and accommodating, that I would go back just because I can rely on being treated like a princess. The staff and manager make you feel like exceptional and are willing to tailor treatments for anyone who would like. Big points for great service here!

For more information, you can visit their website here .


Six Senses
 

A favorite with the women, this place really stands out because of its traditional Qatari architecture and archaic feel. It has a lovely mix of old town Doha with the modern amenities. Starting with delicious flavored water, the spa offers the best services at the Al Sharq Hotel. Their rejuvenating facial is a good option if you want to relax and tone up. Their focus is entirely on healthy living and caring for your senses. So much so, the tea the herbal tea after any treatment is a great finish to a well-spent day at the crossroads of the old and the new. Once a month, they also have specialists who host spa sessions. 

For more information, you could check out their catalog and the offers they have here.

The Four Seasons Spa

The Four Seasons Spa is probably the nicest spa I have been to. They have it all! When it comes to the Four Seasons, the facilities alongside the therapy rooms are the real attraction. A variety of steam rooms, water pools, Jacuzzi and the very unusal ice room! It does make the whole experience feel like another world. I tried the wonderful “Indulgent chocolate delight” that was unlike anything else I have tried. Who doesn't love a little chocolate in their spa? This treatment was the perfect mix of a fragrant coffee wrap and a warm chocolate massage. Though slightly on the expensive side, they do such a good job that you can’t not go back! Besides the most relaxing treatments and wonderful service, the Spa also features Franck Provost’s hair salon and the Nails Boutique. 

What are you waiting for? Check it out NOW!

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About the writer: Shaily is a resident of Doha for the past 12 years. She is a jewelry designer who loves to be creative with ideas, stones and silver. To know more about her and the gorgeous jewellery she designs, visit her facebook page here 

**Pictures used only for representation purposes

Trip to Candy Land!

Top: Chocolate Mousse

Left Bottom: Raspberry Mousse Cake 

Right Bottom: Chocolate Fondue 

On a cozy Saturday afternoon, Doha Diaries decided to visit the one and only Chocolate Brunch Buffet at the Blue Restaurant in Grand Heritage Hotel a.k.a Candy Land! We entered this magnificent hotel standing in the Aspire Zone like a palace, which true to its name represented a lot of tradition in its design and the ambiance. We were there at 1:30 pm and were ready to try out every possible dessert they could offer. We were greeted in a very warm manner and once seated, were served a cold bottle of water in blue glasses. How much chocolate could we really eat? How will our taste palettes be satisfied with only chocolate? These were few of the many questions that were pondering in our minds. 

From Left to Right:

Chocolate mousse

Dark Chocolate mousse

Cheesecake

Chocolate Mousse cake

The buffet was finally open and there was a beautiful spread of many little happy chocolate things. We saw two enormous chocolate fondues, one pouring with milk chocolate and the other with dark chocolate. There were strawberries, marshmallows, apricots, raspberries and to add the Arabic touch, dates to dip in the sinfully delicious fondues. In our first round, we tried out the fondues and were gleeful. We made the next round to try out the cheesecake, chocolate and raspberry mousse, milk and dark chocolate cake. Most of these were satisfying and by this time we were in the midst of a wonderful sugar rush. We were happy and the little kid inside us was dancing with joy. Our third round was to try out the crêpe and waffles. We enjoyed the crispy and freshly made waffles with a large variety of different toppings ranging from powdered sugar to maple syrup and more than six flavors of ice cream. We did feel like we were eight (or younger!) again.

Crème Brulee

By this time, we were giggling and laughing like little kids and just couldn't leave without trying the crème brulee that was being caramelized in a broiler. We placed an order for one and were eagerly waiting for the server to call us when it was ready. It was served to us with a scoop of ice cream, strawberries and some sliced almonds and pistachio. The crème brulee marked the end of our chocolate feast and we were even happier to see that this treat was not too heavy on our pockets.

What we missed the most, was that there were no names of the desserts mentioned anywhere. Labeling of the dishes would have helped us tremendously but we liked the guessing game the chocolate dished played with us anyway. Another small dampener was the missing case of the white chocolate. We are huge fans of white chocolate and we missed its presence in this sinful buffet.

But overall, Doha Diaries highly recommends this experience to everyone. Chocolate lovers will die, go to chocolate heaven, and come back just for the Crème Brulee!

Where: Every Saturday at Blue Restaurant at Grand Heritage Hotel
When: 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm

How much: QR 90 per person

**Doha Diaries reviews' are not sponsored and are conducted anonymously.

Restaurant Review : Medi at The Village

We entered the Village sans expectations because it was just one of those nights, where you don’t know what you are going to get so you brace yourself and expect the least so as not to be let down. We decided to go to the “Medi” Restaurant and saw that it was close to empty, but this didn't change our mood. We remained semi-skeptical and got ourselves seated at a centrally located table. We did not realize how much of a treat we were in for.

The ambiance of the restaurant was completely unassuming and very unlike a fine-dining restaurant which contrasted the detailed and delicious looking menu. There was a tank of fresh fish and crabs which seemed to hit a nerve with some customers but delighted others. The prices, much to our joy, were very happy even without happy hours.

The service was wonderfully prompt (except for when getting the cheque, but we will get to that later). They were extremely attentive and sensitive to the fact that we had a child at the table. The youngster was treated with care and offered special cutlery and crockery much to her delight. Putting her into a better mood eased everyone else at the table. We settled down and started scanning the menu to judge exactly what they had to offer.  

Everyone at the table found something to tease their palette. We decided to start off with a Greek Salad, Buffalo Mozzarella with Tomato and Pesto and the Spinach Fatayer. The Salad was a definite hit with perfect dressing, awesome feta and fresh ingredients. The Mozzarella was either loved or really disliked but in our opinion that’s just the kind of dish it is, the love or hate kind. The Fatayer was not a fatayer, it was more on the lines of a Sambussek.

Main course consisted of a Steak with mushroom pepper sauce and homestyle fries, Moroccan grilled Hammour with rice and vegetables (ordered extra spicy), Pommery Chicken with vegetables and mashed potatoes, Spinach Pesto Tortellini (Vegetarian).

If I go into the details of each dish this review will go on forever but to cut a long story short, we loved everything. Seasoned beautifully, freshly prepared, each dish was sublime. Every plate even looked fantastic with a lovely mix of colours and flavours, garnished appropriately. Out of the dishes, Doha Diaries strongly recommends the Hammour: it hit the spot in ways only a foodie will understand.

Chocolate Fondant

We were incredibly stuffed by this time but we could not leave without tasting the Chocolate Fondant, which had to be ordered 20 minutes prior. It arrived perfectly on time after our main course dishes were carried away. The ramekin was piping hot as it was just taken out of the oven. Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it was a little dangerous to tuck in like we would have hoped, but the dish did not let us down. After licking our lips, wiping our faces and heaving a sigh, we were ready to go home and jump into bed,  and we called for the cheque. After such a wonderful meal that made us rejoice in the messy gloriousness of food, we were made to wait for more than 15 minutes for the bill. This was the only loss of points for the place that goes into our favorite list anyway. Only if the bill was prompt, the restaurant would have had top ranking points.

The Village is located at Salwa Road, near Midmac Roundabout. 
Average meal for two: QAR 250 (Approx.)

** Doha Diaries' reviews are conducted anonymously and are not sponsored.

Tap that (Doha) App!

Doha Diaries gives you five helpful smartphone applications to download in this city. Being in an era of smart phones, we constantly look out for the new apps to download in Doha. Here are our suggestions for free apps available in the city: 

Al Cinema

1) Al Cinema by ADabisc - Cinema is one of the most loved leisure options in the city and usually we struggle to find out about updated show timings and latest movies playing in the city. This app makes life easier by displaying movies, timings and locations of various shows playing around the city.  Highly recommended app for the movie goers / lovers in Qatar.

Masarak iTraffic

2) Traffic Qatar  - Have you had the gripping suspicion about being caught by a speed camera in the city?Traffic Qatar saves you the tension time of waiting for the message or checking online for speed violations on your vehicle. Kode Blink has developed a great app  where all you need to do is enter your vehicle number and press one green button "go".

3) Masarak iTraffic -  In Doha, it is a given that the roads in the city will always be congested during the typical "office hours" (although it does feel like office timings stretch to 24 hours in a day!).  There have been times the app has failed on us, but Masarak iTraffic gets it traffic information mostly right. Now you can get your traffic updates before you get out of the house so that you will know which road, street and roundabout to avoid. A definite yes for this app!

Arabic

4)Arabic by Holfeld Apps - Ever been to a cafe where placing an order in the local language was a herculean task? With this easy to use language learning app, you can study simple but essential Arabic words and phrases that will help you in day to day Doha life.

Zomato

5) Zomato - We are surprised that Zomato isn't as popular an application here. This is our go to app to check menus for restaurants here, as well as contact numbers for cafes and restaurants around the city. It also has featured reviews of eating spots around Doha and you get to choose restaurants according to preferred cuisines and locations. You can follow foodies around the city and find out about their personal experiences and reviews. A must download according to us!

What are your app suggestions??