Food Trip: Jollibee in Kuwait

Finally, I took a bite of the Bee.

Three days after it opened, Jollibee Kuwait is still overflowing with enthusiastic Pinoys waiting in line for hours, wanting to have a taste of home away from home.

Last night, I became part of that mob.

As soon as I arrived home from work yesterday, I asked my wife if she wants to try our luck tonight, she said okay. My daughter must have overheard us and said "Daddy, teacher asked us if we've been to Jollibee already and everybody said Yes, I am the only one No." Okay, so it only means we have to go..lol.

As expected, when we reached the store there's still a queue outside. So we decided to go and do other matters then just come back later.

And come back we did. It was already past 9 by then, about an hour and a half since we first passed by. There were still people in line outside, but at least fewer than the previous days so I thought this should not take long.

I joined the line. When I was standing there, I felt a sort of embarrassment to myself... like I was telling how these people could stand hours of waiting just to have a burger and chicken...like I told before I would wait for the madness to settle down maybe in a months time before  I bring my family here...and yet, here I am, standing outside, waiting patiently for my burger and chicken..LOL!

Inch by inch the line moved until I found myself already inside the store..weee! I am just a few minutes away from the counter. But those minutes quickly turned to hour and yet I felt we are not moving any closer. Darn, this waiting is taking forever and the smell of freshly cooked chicken is killing me. I watched as one by one, customers make their order and as they happily collect their bags of goodness and turned away from the counter with a sigh of relief and desperation. I heard one said, " Sa wakas (At last), after 3 hours!"..I also watched in amazement how one lady ordered just one burger meal for take out..She was there from 7 pm and she ordered just that? Oh well..

Closing time is coming and I can sense an increased feeling of anxiety with my fellow customers. Add to this,  some items are already being sold out! Like what the..**!, you waited long enough only to be told "Sorry, Sir..Sorry Ma'am, sold out na po." 

Anyway, my turn came so I made my order.. and I made sure I have all I wanted..I mean, if you waited that long, better make it sure it's worth the wait..hah!

We drove back home, tired and hungry and cold.. By close to midnight, we had our dinner...on bed!..just so tired to have a meal on the dining table...I finished my burger within minutes and Mommy finished half of hers before we turned our attention to the chicken meal..my girls are also delighted with their spaghetti meal, and in fact, even alternately taking a bite from our burgers!..in less than 10 minutes, we're done...

So was it worth all that?.Definitely!...seeing the smiles..and the spaghetti sauce...on my girl's face..It's definitely yes.

Will I do it again? No..not that soon..I will come back there again after a month's time, after all these madness has settled down...

Or until I crave for another burger..

Jollibee opens in Kuwait

The bee is in Kuwait. Again.

There were some rumors already swirling around a few months ago that a store will open here soon. That rumor turned out to be a fact. And everyone- at least the Filipino community- becomes excited about it. 

Today, February 25, it becomes a reality.

Labor Attache David Des Dicang and franchise owner Yacqoub Al Hajery cuts the ribbon to formally open the store in Kuwait City, February 25.

Fr. Ben Barrameda officiates the blessing of the store with selected guests.

The large crowd that turns out for the event waits outside the store despite the rain and cold wind.

Philippine fast food giant, Jollibee, "re-opened" its doors to its loyal customers here in Kuwait. Yes, I wrote "re-opened" because there used to be one store here when I first arrived "few" years ago. They closed down for still unknown reasons but anyway, it's not my story.

What is important is it's here. The "langhap-sarap" goodness every Filipino-young or old- comes to love and made this brand one of the most recognizable name in the Philippines, is here. 

My kids are already too excited  about our first visit but that's not gonna happen anytime soon. We'll just have to wait until all these excitement dies down a bit. I'd prefer to have a good seat while enjoying a bite of the Champ with my wife :)

Argh. I can't wait.

The store is located in downtown Kuwait, behind the Main Post Office, the same building as Caesar's Restaurant and Kodak.

Credits:
Jollibee Kuwait Facebook page
Photos by Jobz Torres and Tin de los Santos.

Convoy of Ferraris in Kuwait

A large convoy of Ferraris head to Marina Crescent in Salmiya, Kuwait to take part in a parade marking the birthday of Enzo Ferrari, one of the side events of Concours d'Elegance 2012.



Video credits: q8engineer
Related post: 248am

Jeremy Who?!

Jeremy Lin. That's who.

Seems like his name is everywhere these days..Linsanity. Lincredible. Linsational. Call him any Lin nickname you can think of.. And why not?

Everybody knows his story. He is the surprise star of this lockout-shortened NBA season. A perfect story line for a made-for-TV series...even a feel-good Hollywood movie.

A player of Asian descent, who did not receive any athletic scholarship, went undrafted out of college, signed by his hometown team to be used sparingly in NBA games, occasionally sent out to the D-League before being waived off to clear salary space. He eventually landed with the New York Knicks.

And the rest, as they say, is history. Or maybe... the legend is just beginning.



You don't have to be basketball fan..not even a New York Knicks fan..to like this guy. I mean, come on. We all have this fantasy that one day, all our dreams will come true, right?

Then here is one man living out his dreams and enjoying every moment of it. So better believe it.



Suddenly, the NBA is not just about Kobe, LeBron,Wade and Griffins anymore. But definitely, it is becoming a better place.

At the 2012 Grammy Awards

 

Album of the Year: 21, Adele

Record of the Year: "Rolling in the Deep," Adele

New Artist: Bon Iver

Country Album: Own the Night, Lady Antebellum

Song of the Year: "Rolling in the Deep," Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth, songwriter

R&B Album: F.A.M.E., Chris Brown

Rock Performance: "Walk," Foo Fighters

Rap Performance: "Otis," Jay-Z and Kanye West

Pop Solo Performance: "Someone Like You," Adele

Pop Vocal Album: 21, Adele

Traditional Pop Vocal Album: Duets Ii, Tony Bennett and Various Artists

Pop Duo/Group Performance: "Body and Soul," Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse

Short Form Music Video: "Rolling in the Deep," Adele

Long Form Music Video: "Foo Fighters: Back and Forth," Foo Fighters

Rap/Sung Collaboration: "All of the Lights," Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi and Fergie

Rap Song: "All of the Lights," Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter and Kanye West

Rap Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye West

R&B Performance: "Is This Love," Corinne Bailey Rae

Traditional R&B Performance: "Fool for You," Cee Lo Green and Melanie Fiona

R&B Song: "Fool for You," Cee Lo Green and Jack Splash

Pop Instrumental Album: The Road From Memphis, Booker T. Jones

Country Solo Performance: "Mean," Taylor Swift

Country Duo/Group Performance: "Barton Hollow," The Civil Wars

Country Song: "Mean," Taylor Swift

Folk Album: Barton Hollow, The Civil Wars

Hard Rock/Metal Performance: "White Limo," Foo Fighters

Rock Song:  "Walk," Foo Fighters, Songwriters (Foo Fighters)

Rock Album: Wasting Light, Foo Fighters

Alternative Music Album: Bon Iver, Bon Iver

Producer of the Year: Non-Classical: Paul Epworth

Read more: E!Online

Filipino Boxer Casimero attacked by Argentinian boxing fans

From Vavel.com, translated:


The fight between Luis Lazarte and Johnriel Casimero ended in scandal. The Filipino won the flyweight interim title of the IBF. Minutes later the victory was marred by the outbreak of a pitched battle. The triumph of Asian boxer on the Mar del Plata by KO in the tenth round drew the ire of many viewers who got into the ring.

The overwhelming victory of Casimero could not formalized, as hundreds of people invaded the ring. The attackers, who were identified with flags of the Teamsters Union, to hurt the Filipino boxer whizzed chairs, bottles and punches. Meanwhile, the policeman at Club Eleven States of Mar del Plata could not contain the clutter. Even the journalists who were in the area fled terrified by the brutality of the incident.

In the fight itself, the process was very smooth and sloppy until the end of the ninth assault, Casimero clearly impacted on the face of Lazarte. The Argentine felt the blow and fell on the ropes. Later, the fall was repeated. This time by a combination of blows of Asia.

Prior to the completion of combat, Lazarte had committed several offenses and made ​​the podium gestures that warmed the air. Among other things, the Argentine bit the ear of his opponent and hit him in the neck. In fact, this latter action led the referee to deduct a point. Meanwhile, visitors also had disqualifying actions over his rival and was punished twice in the fourth and the eighth round.

From scandal to harsh penalties await the authorities of the organizing committee of the evening. Even Lazarte itself could be punished very harshly. In the coming days will be released an official report with the final decision.

Recognize this guy?

No?
Look again.

Still no?
You don't have any clue?
Look at the hair, the eyes.
Still no?


Okay.This might help.

Yes! It's him.
He is Macaulay Culkin of Home Alone film series fame.

Tsk. tsk. Poor guy, huh?

Whitney Houston (1963-2012)

(REUTERS) Grammy-winning singer and actress Whitney Houston, one of the most talented performers of her generation who lived a turbulent personal life and admitted drug use, died on Saturday in a Beverly Hills hotel room. She was 48.


A Beverly Hills police officer told reporters they were called to the Beverly Hilton, in Los Angeles, at around 3:20 p.m. PST and that emergency personnel found Houston's body in a fourth-floor room, and she was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m.

15 Random Facts about Valentine's Day

In celebration of the day of hearts, here are some interesting facts about Valentine's Day:

Sales of condoms and contraceptive pills are higher during Valentine's week, several companies that sell these products have claimed. Among them are Durex and Yes2condom, a 24/7 online retail service.

Last year, a party-list group in the Philippines gave out free condoms on Valentine's Day as part of an effort to inform people on reproductive rights and secure support for the passage of the Reproductive Health Bill.

On February 14, 2001, 34 couples from 22 countries exchanged wedding vows ten meters underwater near Kradan Island in Southern Thailand. This currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most number of couples married simultaneously underwater.

Last year, Iran banned Valentine tokens such as teddy bears as part of an Islamic republic backlash against Western culture. In 2003, religious activists in India raided shops and burned Valentine's Day cards, while some in Pakistan condemned the occasion as "a day of shame and lust."

In Japan, women give chocolates to their boyfriends, male friends and co-workers on Valentine's Day. Men return the favor on March 14, known as White Day, by handing out white chocolates, lingerie and jewelry to their female friends and loved ones.

A group of feminists began to celebrate an occasion called "Quirkyalone Day" as an alternative to Valentine's Day. It is geared toward people who "resist the tyranny of coupledom." The SAD or Single Awareness Day, on the other hand, aims to remind people that they do not need to be in a relationship to celebrate the 14th of February.

The largest chocolate bar mosaic on the Guinness World Records was made in Switzerland during February 14, 2011. It is 18.35 meters long and made with 1,500 bars of white chocolate and red-colored white chocolate.

Flowers given during Valentine's Day have different meanings. Red roses mean love, yellow roses mean friendship, and pink roses mean friendship or sweetheart. Red carnations mean admiration, white carnations mean pure love, red chrysanthemums mean love, and primrose means young love.

In Germany, young girls would plant onions in a pot on Valentine's Day, and place the name of a boy next to each onion. They believed that they would marry the boy whose name was nearest to the first onion to grow.

Young girls in the United States and the United Kingdom believed that they could tell the type of man they would marry based on the type of bird they first saw on Valentine's Day. A blackbird means a clergyman, a robin redbeast means a sailor, while a goldfinch indicates that they would marry a rich man. A sparrow means a farmer, a blue bird a happy man, a crossbill an argumentative man, and a dove a good man. Seeing a woodpecker is said to mean that they would not marry at all.

A kiss on Valentine's Day is said to bring good luck all year.

In the medieval times, doves are widely believed to choose their mates on February 14. It has become a favorite symbol for Valentine cards.

In 2010, the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi had what may be the priciest Valentine offer: a seven-day stay for $1 million. The offer included a romantic dinner in-suite or on a yacht at sea, helicopter flights, use of the Abu Dhabi golf course, horse riding, watching camel racing, and perfume making. A private jet was also on call for a quick shopping spree to other countries in the region.

Last year, the New York Bronx Zoo gave people a chance to name a Madagascar-hissing cockroach after their special someone as a Valentine's Day offering. The Madagascar is the largest and noisiest variety of cockroach.

It is said that teachers receive the most Valentine cards, followed by children, mothers and wives. Children ages 6 to 10 exchange more than 650 million Valentine cards every year.

Source:

ABS-CBN News

Random History

Guiness World Records
Photo credits to original owners

Marvel's The Avengers Super Bowl XLVI Commercial (Extended)