Crossing off #23

#23. Capture lightning on camera. (refer Before I Die list)

I was working past midnight last night and, exhausted, had decided to turn in. I heard the pattering of raindrops as I crawled into bed, and flung open the window just in time to see the dark skies coruscate with a brilliant flash of lightning. Ain't no way I was going to sleep through a thunderstorm!

I wished I had a DSLR to capture the lightning, but having nothing but a pitiful iPhone 4S on me, I abandoned the thought and gazed out from the darkness of my room, craning my head to catch sight of every lightning bolt that hit the earth. My sister came in and sat beside me. We watched the clouds pour their frustrations onto the land and counted the seconds between the lightning and thunder. I voiced my wish and she suggested I take a video on my phone. I could pause the video when the lightning appeared and take a screenshot.

So I tried it. I got a decent video of a single bolt of lightning on my second attempt, but my aesthetic sense wasn't satisfied; I wanted multiple streaks of lighting rending through the open sky. I tried again for another thirty minutes. The lightning refused to strike through the spot of sky I would focus the camera on, but with a bit of patience (which is very hard for me to muster), secure with the knowledge that it would come, I finally captured it on camera.

Nothing as awe-inspiring as witnessing a lightning storm
take charge of the skies.

I've watched the video several times and it's fascinating to note how the light travels through the web of lightning bolts, illuminating them at different parts within a second. It took forever to get a screenshot at the split second the lightning appeared. I slept late, had to wake up early this morning and I'm still exhausted, but it was so worth it.

Addendum:
I just learnt of an iOS app called iLightningCam 6.0 that facilitates the tricky business of getting a shot of lightning strikes. I wish I'd known about it before; perhaps the picture quality would have been better, but I think my phone did a decent job without it.

revelation at DAI: must learn spanish, must visit spain!

Was at the Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyah (DAI, Kuwait) Flamenco Journey concert last night.

When I first read Flamenco in the memo, my mind immediately stupidly shouted: 'FLAMENCO DANCERS!' and recalled this scene in Mission Impossible 2.

Now I want to fly to Seville. But for now, let's head back to the DAI.
It wasn't dancing, it was music. But flameco music shouldn't be so bad, right?
It most definitely wasn't.

We got there at 6 45 pm, early by our standards as the show was due to begin at 7, but obviously it wasn't early enough coz every darn seat was taken. We walked through the aisles and went around to the back and discovered the DAI had very thoughtfully set up a projector screen and seats before it. I was a tad disappointed that we wouldn't actually see them perform (the faces on the screen were a little blurred) but then again we were here to listen, right? Right.

The music was beautiful, a fusion of flamenco, folk, classical and modern music with guitar (three) and percussion. The percussionist, Pablo Gómez Molina, stole the show in the latter half with his absolutely brilliant performance. I have no idea what he did as I have no knowledge of musical instruments (I can just about tell a piano from a tuba). He would alternate between putting a curious but small, silver object in his mouth making whooshing sounds like the wind with it and bring his feathered drumsticks (the feathers made me think of voodoo for some reason) down with a crash on the cymbals while changing his drumsticks to these other weird 'metalsticks' that kinda resembled an egg beater in each hand, without the metal being linked on top. Occasionally, he would tie bells or something above his knee and quite literally, shake a leg. Thrice he held up an odd object that resembled a small drum but with something within and shook it. I marvelled at how he was always doing two things at once - a multitasker to a T! His interjections certainly gave a fabulous edge to the guitar play, complementing it in every way.

The concert was, if you haven't understood yet, AMAZING. While the guitarists were playing I closed my eyes and I could see those flowing red skirts, whisking in the air as the owner's shoes tapped the floor in tune to the music..

This was the only video I could find. Not as great as the ones played, for one thing Pablo is not doing anything strange. I didn't take my camera so I couldn't take videos of them playing :( Mental Note 2: NEVER EVER leave home without the camera!

After the show, the sister and I raced to the front where the quartet was receiving a well-deserved standing ovation. As they were getting off the stage there were loud cries for an encore and the sweethearts that they were, the four returned to play another track.
Mental Note: watching performers in the flesh beats seeing them on a projector screen by a mile and a half. They were friggin' GORGEOUS!

As always is the case when one witnesses a wonderful and heartfelt performance, the sister and I skipped over to where Pablo the percussionist was packing up his instruments to tell him how awesome he was. I asked him about them (before today I'd no idea what percussion instruments looked like, like I said I'm an ignoramus in this department) and he graciously told me what they were and a little about their music.
After complimenting him on his performance, he informed me the CDs were on sale outside. The sister bought one on the spot, it had all the tracks that were played :D We then set out to get the CD autographed by Pablo, who scribbled something in Spanish with a permanent marker the sister dug out of her bag (she just happened to be carrying one.. wonder what else she's got in there o_O). We then hesitantly approached the lead guitarist Juan Carlos Gomez to grace his CD with a signature and the rest of the band, Pablo, Luis Miguel and Jose Miguel trooped in. They tried to decipher Pablo's writing and said it meant 'beautiful eyes' (the correct translation is at the end of this post). Wha..? And then Carlos wrote something and translated it, from what I remember it went something like 'big beautiful eyes illuminate your life'. It was probably lost in translation as they spoke little English and I speak no Spanish. If you understand Espanol, tell me what on earth it really says por favor, 'coz Google Translate and I can't make head or tail of it.

Translate si?

I have a bone to pick with some of the people that attended. The hall was so packed, people were actually sitting on the carpeted floor. A moronic woman behind me was talking on her phone very audibly (despite the turn off your cellphones announcement) while the concert was going on and only shut up when somebody 'SHHHHH'ed her. Atleast three other inconsiderate losers in my line of view were constantly fiddling on their iPhones or Blackberries. For God's sake, you've had the good fortune to settle your rear on a chair, why not sit back and enjoy the music? And if you don't enjoy it, show some respect - LEAVE and give your seat to somebody on the floor who wasn't lucky enough to grab one! The light of their mobile screens was so distracting a man even told off a teenager who wouldn't get off it. Twenty minutes later, she was back on. Maybe DAI should hold all phones before a concert begins..

Never mind them. I'm listening to the CD right now and reliving the show. Kudos to DAI and the Spanish Embassy for a lovely evening.

Mental Note 3: Must learn Spanish.
Mental Note 4: Must visit Spain and see Flamenco dances live. This goes on the Before I Die List.

Addendum: A visitor to the blog very kindly translated it for me :) Pablo's writing says: For the most beautiful (girls) and Carlos' says: 'Let your big eyes illuminate your life'. Okay so, it ain't my eyes that are beautiful, it's the whole package. Works for me =D Nobody could ever top these autographs.

No. 31 aaaand.. 32

Add to my Before I Die list:

31. Watch a movie at the drive-in.

'Coz they're more or less extinct. The drive-in cinemas. No more. Whoosh. All gone.

I was just contemplating how Shane West helps Mandy Moore complete her wish list in A Walk to Remember. And I expect the same to happen with me, that my soul mate (when he plans to show up) will enjoy accompanying me and planning surprises to help me carry out the stuff I have listed (and vice versa). Hopefully without a terminal illness imposing a deadline.
But since I'm expecting it to happen, I would probably ruin the surprise element for myself. You see, this is how I imagine No. 31 to be carried out.

Scene: Evening. Soulmate (SM) takes me out in the convertible (hey this is MY imagination) without telling me where we're going.
Me: Where are we going?
SM: You'll see. (I hope SM comes up with a better dialogue than that. Right now, I can't)
Methinks - Could it be? Is it finally time to cross No. 31 off the list? Where did he find a DRIVE-IN in 20xx for God's sake? Awesome! :D
SM drives car into a compound with a ginormous screen playing Camille (I have a thing for Robert Taylor right now)
SM: Surprise! :D
I feign surprise and overact superbly (I have a flair for exaggeration if you haven't guessed as yet): *gasp* No! You didn't! You remembered!
SM: You guessed.
Me: I kinda did.

You see?! I ruined the surprise for myself by expecting it as well as the possibility of the pleasure the soul mate might have derived from giving it (coz he's gonna be that kinda guy).

Or, not happen. We might have an alternate scenario such as:

Scene: Evening. Soulmate (SM) takes me out without telling me where we're going.

Me: Where are we going?

SM: You'll see. (You know my thoughts on this)

Methinks - Could it be? Is it finally time to cross No. 31 off the list? Where did he find a DRIVE-IN in 20xx for God's sake? Awesome! :D

SM drives car into parking of a concert of Russian pop singer Maksim Galkin.

SM: Surprise!

I am too genuinely surprised to feign surprise.

SM: Well? No. 17! Attend a Maksim concert! Here we are!

Me: Maksim Mrvica. Pianist.

SM: Oh.. So you don't like it?

Methinks - You think?

Mesays: Err..

Bigger disaster. Although, even I don't really see this ever materializing.. (actually Maksim Galkin ain't all too bad. Discovered him while searching for Maksim Mrvica's tracks on the now defunct Limewire.)

But if nothing else, I am an optimist. Consider this scenario:

Scene: Evening. Soulmate (SM) takes me out without telling me where we're going.

Me: Where are we going?

SM: You'll see. (Again, you know my thoughts on this)

Methinks - Could it be? Is it finally time to cross No. 31 off the list? Where did he find a DRIVE-IN in 20xx for God's sake? Awesome! :D

SM parks car in front of a row of shops and leads me to a pet shop right to an adorable little puppy (haven't decided what breed yet)

SM: Surprise!

Me - wide-eyed and not daring to believe it. and then..

Me: OMG! It's so cuteeee!! OMG! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!! *more shrieks of excited indiscernible exclamations* 

SM wishes he'd just brought it home.

I could live with that one :D 

Add No. 32: Get a puppy.

Before I Die - Crossing off the first

No. 4. - Spend a day at a spa..

Not just any spa. An aquatonic spa. One of the rare few in the world, the first in the Middle East and the best spa in Kuwait.

And I spend the day there for free. 

CHA CHING!!

Whiled away the afternoon hours with mom's bff whose friend invited her who invited me to accompany her to the Spa Aquatonic at Crowne Plaza (did you follow that?)

So we entered and the attendant who met us asked me my age (23). He gave me a discerning look and then said, 'are you sure you're not under 18?' Sheesh!

Moving on..

Caution: Major overuse of the word 'awesome' suspected.

What a place.. WOW WOW WOW!!

Here's a peek of the entrance from their website (click for a better look):

The place is magnificent - the decor made me swoon. There were windows of carved wood everywhere, in the changing area and were all around the aquatonic pool. The plush interiors are made of marble and look very swanky without ever coming close to ostentatious.

A locker with an electronic locking system was assigned to each of us and contained a towel and a huge kingly peach coloured bathrobe. They had my heart right from there :) Changed into my swimsuit and followed my spa mates into the pool.

This is what I saw (again, from the website - photography wasn't allowed and anyway I was too busy breathing it all in to take furtive pictures with my cell):

We went during ladies hours and there weren't that many people anyway. After a long time I smiled at strangers (not 'coz I'm a snob, I just don't remember to use my cheek muscles that way but today I was beaming) and got smiled back at. Some of the women were wearing INSANE swimming caps! Check them here. They beat the ugly, old, monochromatic Speedo ones anyday! 

The pool was aweeeesomeeeee (I warned you)!! It was GINORMOUS and was divided in 15 sections (but I can just recall 13). So the concept behind the aquatonic pool is that it offers a 'therapeutic experience' to de-stress. There are a number of jets underwater in the walls in numerous parts of the pool, with an intent of addressing and lessening problematic pains in the body through water massages.

A particular area (that you can see in the lower left hand of the picture) has these little U shaped cocoons where you sit (with great difficulty, it takes some getting used to - not getting thrust off the seat). There are jet propulsions in the wall that are aimed at different parts of your back. I felt I was being pummeled. Right next to that section, is a track that one is supposed to walk through against the powerful flow of the current. That was awesome! Behind this, on a higher level lies a still pool (extreme left of above picture). What's so special about it? Well, it has treadmills and cycling machines IN it. SUPER AWESOME FUNNNN!!

I also did around five minutes of aqua aerobics with a long cylindrical piece of foam (Google says it's called a pool noodle). Oh MAN. It just refused to stay under my foot underwater, kept throwing me off. I didn't spend too much time on it after I got the hang of it, was too busy hyperactively exploring, afraid we'd leave before I entirely checked out every single section satisfactorily.

There were deckchairs too, underwater (duh). Aqua massage chairs, they're called. The neck and feet are where you get you massaged - if you can settle your rear into it without floating out of it. After a time, propped in front of any jet, it felt itchy; it was doing great things for my blood circulation. Stone statues of swans tower at the corner and back of the pool, furiously spitting out a continual flow of water that lashes your back when you sit under it.

There was a jacuzzi/hot tub too of course, and I sat out the majority of the last hour there in utter bliss, occasionally dipping my chin into the foam, it had a sweet sensation. I probably would have fallen asleep if it weren't for nagging fear that my head would nod off into the frothing water. A small but long waterfall ran the whole length of the pool in the middle, and I walked under it sideways with my hands outstretched grinning like crazy, remembering how we'd drench ourselves back in India.

(There was nothing falling from the ceiling, if that's what this pic made you think)

On another, higher level right at the back, there are jets in the ground. Rocked my world! I leaned against the wall and stuck my feet firmly right over the jet (needs practice, else the water thrusting out just makes you float :S). It felt ticklish, but in a pleasant way. I could see the whole pool from up there. The dark carved wooden windows looked exquisite, highlighted in the sunlight that filtered in through the blinds behind. The interiors have an Arabian look about them giving off a very harem-like feel. The whole extravagant experience seduces you like nobody's business. As I looked on at the dozens of jets propelling water at varying forces and pressures, the lighting, the temperature controlled water, it struck me how much energy and electricity it must need to maintain a place like this. Staggering amount. The annual membership is not inexpensive and the daily walk-in alone is 50 KD. 

I love exorbitant freebies ;)

We spent over two and a half hours in there (only 60 minutes is recommended for health reasons.. I don't know what they are but I could add to avoid your skin looking like a prune's exterior. But the website says 90 minutes in there and you could lose 500 calories! :D) and then wadded back to the changing rooms in our humongous bathrobes. There was a sauna and steam room too. Obviously, I popped into both :P The steam nearly burned me to death. After about 3 minutes, I was hopping towards the door like a bunny, screaming 'ow ow OW!' Went into the sauna then, apparently it was turned on specially for this dear blogger ;) Ah I loved that. It was peaceful, since I was the only one there. I can't imagine why though; it was so calming. Then I got bored and went to shower. I'd forgotten shampoo but naturally it was available in each shower cubicle in liquid dispensers. After drying my hair with one of the blowdryers plugged into the wall, I finally dropped my bathrobe into a basket, bidding it a forlorn farewell.

Sigh. What a great day.