Bino

It was a gift from my dad on my high school graduation; it was a new, cute, and silver Peugeot 307; it was “the” car for an 18 year old university girl; and I loved it. Naturally, I gave it a name, a character, and the accessories to go with it. Fabien, nicknamed Bino, was my car, a blond, gay Frenchman, who was tough and fragile all together with a dice in the mirror.

Then came the July war, and our trip to Canada, and the debate to stay there, or come back to Lebanon, to sell everything, including Bino, or keep everything until further notice. I still remember the temper tantrums I threw just to come back to Lebanon for Bino and AUB; and it worked!

For 6 years, Bino was my best friend and companion. I still remember all the traffic jams we used to suffer on the highway to Beirut every morning, and back home in the evening. I remember all the chocolate bars and the juice cartons I used to leave behind because I was always in a hurry. I remember all the clothes and the shoes I used to lose, then find again with Bino. I remember the longest drive we had, which was to the south for a picnic with a bunch of friends from university.

He was with me through my high school graduation, my university years and graduation, he went with me on all those useless job interviews, and then to my first job, and now my second. He was with me while I was running around preparing for my wedding and remodeling my house.    

But even the sweetest fruit will grow old and sour someday. A few weeks ago, I decided that Bino needed his retirement so I decided to put him up for sale. After the many phone calls, questions, price debates, and the lost Saturday at the Car Zone “Nef3a” (that is a different story) the deal was done and Bino had his new owner.

There are some moments in life that you know you will never forget, like the moment I found out I got accepted to AUB, or the moment I saw my husband for the first time, and now I have the moment I gave up Bino’s keys to the old man in the grey sweater.

Bitter, sweet… but I’m ready for a new car now!

Search in Progress…

Osaka Sushi Lounge Vs. Tsumani

It has been quite a long time since I trashed one of Lebanon’s top places, so today’s lash out goes to Osaka Sushi Lounge located in the Kantari area.

For almost a year now, I have been hearing from friends that Osaka is the best sushi place in town. According to everyone, it’s supposed to have the best atmosphere, best service, and the best sushi in terms of variety and taste. So on Saturday, and after a month of contemplating the visit, my husband and I decided to try it mainly because we couldn’t get a reservation at Tsunami, our regular sushi place, because it was fully booked.

And so it goes, we arrived to Osaka at 10:30 pm, and sat at the bar until one of the tables was cleared which took about 7 minutes. We sat down and looked through the menu at the very limited variety and decided on what to order. After 20 minutes of waiting, my husband finally motioned to the waitress to notice that we were ready to make the order.

While we waited for the food to arrive, I couldn’t help but notice that the restaurant was not divided into a smoking and a non-smoking section. Usually at sushi places with an open bar, guests are prohibited from smoking on the bar because it’s directly over the food while it’s being prepared; at Osaka, sushi and cigarette smoke mixed perfectly in an atmosphere of ultimate Zen! (Super sarcastic tone)

The food arrived with a great presentation, but I wish I could say the same thing about the taste. Each and every piece of Maki was spicy, even the ones that didn’t include “spice” in their descriptions, not to mention salty to an extent that you are not able to taste the ingredients.

So in a nut shell, if you are looking for over priced, smoky, and salty sushi, brought to your table with bad service, then Osaka is your place!

For reservations, please call 01-360630

Tsumani, on the other hand, has a menu that is filled with pages and pages of different types of Sushi, Sashimi, Maki, salads, appetizers, and hot dishes to an extent that you can visit once a week for a whole year, and still order something new each time, as is the case with my husband and I.

The service is speedy and friendly, and if you choose to sit at the “non-smoking” bar, you will really enjoy watching a pair of very professional and talented chiefs make your delicious sushi with such skill that triggers your appetite even more.

So in a nut shell, if you are looking for affordable, clean, and delicious sushi, brought to your table with friendly and professional service, then Tsunami is your place.

For reservations, please call 01-337327

Fashion Trends for Spring/ Summer 2012

After quite a rough winter, and all its leather jackets, fur vests, scarves, and high boots, one is in serious need of a hint of spring, and all the new trends in store for the much awaited season.

The past fall/ winter’s fashion was rich in animal prints, dark metallics, furs, leathers, and a few signature colors like caramel, grey, burgundy, and dark green. All of which made the season warmer and the shopping, especially enjoyable.

From the looks of store windows, fashion websites, and catwalks, this spring/ summer seems to be promising so let’s skip the poetic mumbo jumbo of spring being the season of rebirth, and jump straight into its fashion must haves!

Even though prints and metallics have been scaling catwalks for a while now, they don’t seem to be backing down anytime soon. Floral and geometric prints are making their way back onto store shelves, accompanied by more metallics, but instead of the classic gold, silver, and bronze, it’s more colorful with electric shades of blue, teal, and pink. When it comes to colors, light pinks, peaches, yellows, blues, and other pastels are everywhere, and getting them mixed together in a floral pattern is the way to go.

The Bohemian look, along with its head bands, wavy hair, large bangles, pale make up, and loose fit clothing is one of the hottest looks this season. It is my personal favorite because it gives off a relaxed yet mysterious aura.

 

Happy Shopping!

Above and Beyond – Group Therapy

Above and Beyond – Group Therapy

-          My new favorite album

Track List

1. Filmic
2. Alchemy feat. Zoë Johnston
3. Sun & Moon feat. Richard Bedford
4. You Got To Go feat. Zoë Johnston
5. Black Room Boy (vocals by Tony McGuinness and Richard Bedford)
6. Giving It Out feat. Zoë Johnston
7. On My Way To Heaven feat. Richard Bedford8. Prelude
9. Sun In Your Eyes
10. Love Is Not Enough feat. Zoë Johnston
11. Every Little Beat feat. Richard Bedford12. Sweetest Heart feat. Zoë Johnston
13. Thing Called Love feat. Richard Bedford14. Only A Few Things feat. Zoë Johnston
15. Eternal

You Got To Go (Little Dreamer)

-          My new favorite “feel good” track

Traffic Rules for Sale

Corruption at its finest!

On a random street in Beirut, the story goes:

Officer: “Hey sir, you can’t park here, its reserved.” (Ya rayyes, ma feek tsoff hon, ma7jouz)

Lebanese Man: “Reserved for whom?” (Ma7jouz la meen?)

Officer: “You just can’t park here.” (Khalas, mamnou3a l saffe hon)

Lebanese Man: “Fix it.” (Zabbita)

Officer: “It can’t be fixed.” (Ma btitzabbat)

Lebanese Man: “Everything can be fixed, my friend.” –and he removes 20,000L.L. from his wallet. (Kil shi byitzabat ya sa7be)

Officer: “Welcome!” – and he removes the obstacle, and holds traffic for the man to park.

In a high traffic street in Beirut, the story continues:

Officer: “Madame, you can’t park here!” (Ya madame, mamnou3a l saffe hon!)

Madame: “I will only be just a minute, my friend needs to give me something.” (Mish mtawle, sa7ibte mnazlitle gharad)

Officer: “Even though, you will block traffic, you have to move the car.” (7atta law, m3ar2le l seir)

Madame: “She’s here, she’s here!” – And the Madame’s friend shows up from behind the revolving  glass door of the adjacent building wearing a mini-skirt, a tailored blazer and casually sporting cleavage. (Hayeha, ijit ijit!)

Officer: “Madame.” – he is politely ignored by the two ladies, but doesn’t mind it because he is enjoying the view.

Officer: “Madame, I’m going to have to give you a ticket.” – and he starts to take out the ticket book. (Badde a3milik zabit)

Madame: “How dare you, I’m leaving!” – and acts like such a victim that he can’t help but smile, he is hooked. (Yii wallaw!! – felle!)

Officer: “Ok, be quick.” (Tayib, bes bsir3a)

Madame: “You are so kind!” – winks and drives off, while the officer continues to check out her friend. (Killak zo2!)

At the place where they do yearly car revisions and pay the mechanique fees, it still goes on:

Mechanic: “It won’t pass.” (Ma btinja7)

Lebanese Man: “Why not, there is nothing wrong with it.” (Leish la2, ma biha shi)

Mechanic: “The left stop light isn’t red enough, the license plate is scratched, and the left tire needs air.”

Lebanese Man: “Come on man, let us go.” (Ya zalame, Masheena)

Mechanic: “I can’t, you have to fix those stuff and come back for another check.” (Ma fiye, lezim tsali7on barra, w tirja3 t3eed l mo3ayane)

Lebanese Man: “By your honor, you’re going to make me pass through this crowd again; why don’t fix it.” (Bi sharafak, baddak t3ali2ne b kil hal 3aj2a marra tenye? Sali7a inta!

Mechanic: “I can’t, I only do the check up!” (Ma bsali7 hon, bes mo3ayane)

Lebanese Man: “So you want me to pay another mechanic to fix it? You’re the best one here.” – the mechanic pick up on the bribe. (Halla2 baddak yene idfa3 la mikansien tene ta yzabita, ma inta ashtar wa7ad hon)

Mechanic: “If I want to fix it, it will cost you $60!” (Badda tkalfak $60)

Lebanese Man: “No problem, you’re a professional.” – and pays the money discretely. (Ma mishkle, inta m3allim)

Mechanic: “Congratulations, your car passed the tests. (mabrouk, nij7it!)

Barcelona, Dubai, Beirut...Sea side.

How wonderful is it to put our city in a category with the likes of Barcelona or Dubai?

Spot the resemblance!

Port Vell - Barcelona

Dubai Marina - Dubai

Zaitunay Bay - Beirut

A holiday in Britain, with no British People!

My 2012 started with a once in a lifetime experience, the London Eye fireworks display on New Year’s Eve. The crowd, the atmosphere, the fun, the celebrations, the people singing “Happy Birthday New Year, and the fireworks were really a site to see.

What followed were 7 days of shopping and roaming around the city. Bicester Village, Oxford Street, and Westfield Mall were some of the “must visit/ shop” places I went too.

The cloudy skies, red double-decker busses, and the immigrants made my stay in London truly signature.

Yes IMMIGRANTS!

Everywhere you go, everywhere you look, each street, each store was over run by people of non-English, non-white roots. In plain and simple terms, London is now one big game of “Spot the White Man.”

I have gone online and read a few articles and reports of the immigrant situation in the UK, and what continues to come up is that Joe Public is reluctant to bring up the matter openly in order not to be branded as a racist. WTF!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8451917/Who-is-to-blame-for-fractured-Britain.html

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/3906232/MPs-Act-now-on-immigration.html

Well I don’t mind being called a racist if I’m against my tax money being spent on supporting foreigners who function as parasites to my government.

I myself am an immigrant. My parents migrated to Canada when I was 3 years old. My father got some support from the Canadian government for a couple months before he was able to get a job, pay his own rent and expenses, get off welfare, and finally become a tax paying, legal Canadian citizen. My parents did it right.

What’s going on in London today, to my modest point of view, is an abuse of the system. Immigrants are flocking to the United Kingdom, mainly from conflict ridden countries and asking for housing, medical attention, benefits, allowances, and rights without contributing to the growth of the host country. They are sucking tax payers’ blood.

Over my stay, I heard a lot of stories about how the government is paying close to hundreds of pounds per week as rent for a single Iraqi family, its giving thousands of pounds per week for the same family as living expenses, child benefits, disability benefits; mind you, hardly any of them are disabled or lack the basic requirements to get a basic wage job.

In the elevator at Marks & Spenser in Oxford Street, one out of ten people is a white, English person. In a crowd at Sainsburry’s, two out of ten people speak the true British English accent. In Cost Co., perhaps the only wholesale market that requires you to be employed to get a membership, sixty out of the seventy people in the food court are true, blue eyed, red haired, white skinned English.

Those are very primitive observations, but I guess they are enough to say that London is over run my non English, colored people who are neither working nor becoming integrated in the community.

A lot may argue that Britain has had a long, black history of invading and colonizing countries, namely those that belong to those immigrants, but in my opinion it has paid its dues, and is continuing to do so, in a quite exaggerated manner.