I had to go there with a friend… So I thought of giving their stuff a shot… And I kinda regret it.

I even had to ask my friend (Sicko) to come there out of boredom… Well I’ll keep it short since I hate this place…

Prices:
*   Ordered Halloumi sandwich and it wasn’t as good as I expected… It was less than the decent Haloumi sandwich… And costs 1.500KD… Thats much for that sandwich
*   My friend ordered Cappuccino… I don’t know how much it costs but it wasn’t so special

Space:
*   Its crowded inside… Well why can’t it be? They’re watching a soccer game…
*   To me, its waaaaay too open… And since I’m a guy who works on a laptop, its annoying because people can see what I’m doing
*   Parking?  C’mon it’s Salmiya… Don’t expect to get good parking without having a hard time

Quality:
*   No special Haloumi Saandwich
*   No special Cappuccinos

Atmosphere:
*   Since there’s a soccer match, I kinda predicted it’ll be noisy and annoying
*   According to a friend of mine, he said its not that much of a difference in noisiness…

Notes:
*   The only good thing in here is their Internet connection, Pay 1KD and you’ll get 24 internet hours.
*   Seatings aren’t good
*   Lack of power sockets…

Conclusion:
I’M NOT COMING HERE AGAIN!!! Unless they fix things over… I prefer going to the Falafel shop in my area than coming in here! I prefer drinking Nescafe over drinking their cappuccino!  Hell, I prefer eating my own Cheese’n'Toast over their Haloumi Sandwich… Noisy, annoying, Bad layout, Bad Quality in goods Coffee House…

I wonder why people make big fuss about it?

If you read my previous post about detecting gayness by fingers length, you’ll enjoy this one. If you didn’t, you might enjoy this one as well =P

While I was browsing Wired.com (which I enjoy doing so… Along with checking Engadget.com), I saw this post which really drew my attention.

Some weird researchers from National Academy of Sciences led by Ivanka Savic found a way to figure out if you’re gay or not by taking some MRI scans of your head.

If you have larger RIGHT brain hemisphere that’d mean you’re into women (that goes for both guys and girls).
If you have larger SYMMETRIC brain hemisphere that’d mean you’re into men (that goes for both guys and girls).

We can build gay detecting devices in the near future… And it’ll be a funny scene if a Doctor who actually read this post went and took some MRI Scans… I’m sure he\she\it will laugh their asses out when the patient goes off the MRI scan room =P (or maybe hook up with’em…)

Science is getting more creepy… Click here to read the Wired article covering this thing. And practice on the picture above for future needs.

I was bored and wandering alone in Gulf Street… So I thought of giving that place another shot…

Went there yesterday around 22:00… Give’n'Take… Couldn’t write this post due to my laziness (I woke up around 21:10)… Didn’t stay much there…

Good things happened:
*   Still quite… No big noise.
*   Ordered their Hot Chocolate… Large Size… 1.500KD… Taste GEEWD (But not as good as their VANILLAAAA).
*   Still decent taste of music… But I still use my iPod.
*   Lively and spirited staff… Even though I asked’em for 5 minutes to decide what to order, they kept nagging abit…

Bad things happened:
*   Still no WiFi… I had to use my Wnet card (Which I always do regardless the WiFi existance =P).
*   Seats are still annoying… I have to bend my back to use the laptop… Unless I put my laptop on my lap.

*   Parking the car wasn’t as smooth as first time… Yet it wasn’t as hard as… lets say, parking my car in my college…
*   I gotta keep my iPod’s volume down… Somewhere around %85…

Conclusion:
The place is quite… Maybe it’ll be the only reason to go there… That, and their Hot VANILLAAAAAH!!!

Yea, I gotta admit… They really improved…

The restroom is becoming much cleaner… I don’t know if those messy customers decreased (hope not) or they workers in here pushed it harder.

And few minutes before writing this port, a new paper thingy (I don’t know what to call it… so it’s a thingy) have been spreading around on every table. I’ll quote whats written on it:

Starting June 1st

Every 1KD you spend

On Dunkin’Donuts Products you receive

2 Hours of free internet

Oh boy, I could start my Xubuntu USB Flash Drive and update stuff while sipping coffee for 2 hours… AMAZING!!!… This offer even beats Caribou Coffee’s offer which goes something similar to:

“Get a free internet hour whenever you buy something”

I likie the improvements… Wish for the best =D

Today I felt like trying a new place. So I got outta Dunkin’ Donuts (Yes… DD… The inner evil me forces me to go there), called Dragon (eLeeT) and my friend Painkiller and went to look for a new place to try. I even was cruising Gulf Street for like an hour trying to decide.

Finally decided to go to “Cocoa Leaf” near the Olympic complex thats in progress… But, it’s not a coffee house (bohohooo…).

So I thought of the word “Leaf” and remembered there’s supposed to be a quite coffee house with the word “Lead” in it, it was “The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf” located right infront of Qasr Al-Seif (somewhere near Panini and The Burger Hub). Went there, called my friends and they couldn’t come due to some issues (except you Dragon… You’re just a lazy butt!!!)

I’m writing this post while drinking their HOT VANILLA!!!

Prices:
*   The Chocolate fantasy costs around 1.750KD
*   The HOT VANILLA (0.4Litre) costs around 1.200KD
*   Decently reasonable for the drink… But the cake isn’t that great (because it had nuts… I’m kinda allergic to’em… My tongue is itching me)

Space:
*   Small indoor space and Large outdoor space…
*   Parking your car might be a hard task… I think I’m lucky since I arrived around 19:30

Quality:
*   The Chocolate Fantasy had the chocolate that I prefer (kinda dark and bitter)… I love it… But I wasn’t lucky enough because it had nuts… I’d try something else later on
*   The HOT VANILLA IS HOTTT!!! I LIKIE!!!!! It makes me feel 273542878537265832 years younger… Reminds me when I was young, sneaking to the kitchen, grabbing some milk and put some chocolate powder and mess things out… Then mom yells and I run away =P.
*   They served the HOT VANILLA with some HUGE glass… Unusual but me likie… And there’s no tray which always bothers me

Atmosphere:
*   I have no right to judge… But decoration feels cheap to me… So common wooden decoration… Less comfy seats that usual (comparing to Caribou Coffee and The Hangout).
*   There’s a weird drawing on the wall behind me… It has a Kuwaiti guy wearing the traditional uniform (Ghetra and Egal) holding a kid’s hand… Never saw that coming… But since we’re at it, is he the kid’s father or just another pedophile? =P.
*   Popish and so common taste of music… Good thing I have my iPod.
*   Abit chilli and Bright in the inside.
*   Electricity sockets everywhere… People with laptops won’t have to bring their extensions.
*   No WiFi yet. I talked to the Barista and he said it’ll be available soon. Wnet does the job.

Notes:
They offer some card. Order whatever you’re ordering for 12 times and you’ll get a free drink (Coffee or Tea)… Ask them for more details. And they have that cheap Honey Sticks, I’m buying two for my nieces.

Conclusion:
The place IS damn quite (maybe I arrived at some weird timing) but yea I like it… The goods in here are great (well the ones I tried)… It’s chilli in here… Feeling cold right now… I’ll come back here later on for another shot.

I was close enough on going to Caribou FTZ (Free Trading Zone as my friend eLeeT said once). But I changed my mind and thought of giving “The Hangout” a shot… It’s been a while since I last time went there (2 years maybe). It’s somewhere in Salmiya, close to AUK (American University of Kuwait).

I’m writing this post after having a good day over there…

Prices:
* IT COSTS ALOT!!! I paid almost 5KD for a cappuccino and some club sandwich… Well the taste is awesome but still COSTS ALOT!!!

Space:
* It’s as large as any Starbucks… Good seats… Good tables… Got TVs (which is something so uncommon for coffee houses and stuff).
* There’s that spot thats mostly reserved, which is a good place if you want to have a little bit of freedom with your date or something =P.
* Parkings aren’t enough, C’mon it’s Salmiya after all.

Quality:
* Go for the drinks and all… The food aren’t that special. Though I like their Pioneer Sandwich which costs like 2.900KD WHICH IS ALOT!
* Their “Hangout special cappuccino” taste good. Well not too good to me, lack of sweetness… I love sugar =P.

Atmosphere:
* Modern Indian style decoration. Liked the lightning.
* There are few TVs in there.
* Good taste of music… I love it… Mostly Oriental stuff (like Oriental Jazz and maybe little Latino songs).
* It’s so good for dating. Actually, I knew its a good spot for dating… I felt weird going there alone (thank god some friends arrived =P).
* It’s abit dark… Reddish colored… Has electricity sockets everywhere (Good for laptopers)… Various WiFi Access points (use the “Get Connected” WiFi access point… It’s free but abit slow).
* They light little candles on few tables… I LOVE THAT!!!

Notes:
If you want to have a nice date with a girl (or boy… who knows maybe the person who’s reading is a girl… or gay =P… hehehe) stuff your wallet with some cash and go there… It worth the price… And, try to bring your own Wnet or e-Go connection… The public internet in here is as fast as 32KBps download.

Conclusion:
I’d only come here when I got over-moneyed =P… I remember that their chocolate stuff were so AMAZING!!! I mean, so amazing that I’d go for their chocolated stuff again and again!!!… I might update you all with more details IF I go there again =P.

I passed by Dunkin’ Donuts near AL-Fanar to have that TANK OF COFFEE. I hate the place now… I seriously do.

OK, It’s cheap and their coffee is so bitter (which I kinda like), but it got a little messy.

For a start, the rest room; People go there to answer nature calls, so it gotta be clean.
The guys who work there are trying hard to keep it clean and I really appreciate it. BUT THE PEOPLE THERE ARE NASTY!!!

I mean, I have to clean the toilet’s seat if I wanted to use it. I don’t work there but I want to use clean facilities. And I don’t answer the call in a nasty way, I AIM AND PUT EFFORTS ON AIMING SO I WOULDN’T MESS THINGS OUT!!!!!

And then the people who comes here, I don’t have anything against Philipinoes at all. They’re nice, waaaaay too nice.
But, What the hell do you explain full of Philipinoes hanging around with desperate men (Americans, foreigners and even Kuwaities)? … I mean c’mon I can let that restroom cleaning thingy aside, but its annoying to wait standing for 10 minutes to actually order my coffee (which is usually served in 30 seconds) so that desperate guy flirts with the Philipino girl who works there (and she’s playing along…) while putting his arm around the Philipino girl who came along with him. I’m not pointing at the decent Philipinoes because I don’t mind’em at all (in fact, I sometimes work with’em and get things done pretty quick because we know how to deal with each others). THEY WERE THE GOLD DIGGER TYPE!!!

When I look around, they’re all Philipino gold diggers!

Now the smokers; I like the smell of donuts and bitter coffee (even when it gets cold). But sometimes I smell something annoying… CIGS!! I turn around and see this guy smoking and the “Smoking Area” sign with an arrow pointing to the upper floor is right infront of his eyes!! GO UPSTAIRS AND SMOKE THE SHIT YOU’RE SMOKING!!!! I ALREADY HAVE LUNG INFECTION AND I DONT SMOKE!! THANKS TO YOU SMOKERS!!!

Do I have to go and tell’em to stop smoking or go upstairs to smoke? well I did and they got a little pissed but they went upstairs forcefully (the staff made’em… thanks for the support). Just go upstairs and smoke whatever you want! Just don’t force me to be a 2nd hand smoker!

This place starts giving me the creeps!!! I think I’ll switch to Caribou Coffee at the Free Trading Zone.

I took another shot of coming here the very next day since I liked the place ALOT!.

Went there around 16:00 and its 21:00 by the time I’m writing this post and I’m planning to move out soon.

Goods happened:
* More people arrived and its STILL quiet.
* The seats makes me wanna sleep here (not just stick in here).
* The A\C is right above me, it could keep the weird smells away (if something burned by mistake or something)… But that depends on your seat.
* Free WiFi. You gotta ask the guys who works there.
* Friendly staff, Ceramic cups, clean clean stuff
* Good taste of musics. Not as jazzy as Starbucks or gay as Dunkin’ Donuts, just good music (well they played “Sweet Home Alabama” for Lynyrd Skynyrd orwhateverthatbandnamewas).

Bad happened:
* More people, one of the reasons I dumped Starbucks Mishref but its not that bad.
* The A\C is right above my head, gotta wear some long-sleeve shirt or whatever… But that depends on the seat.
* WiFi thingy is abit annoying. I always stick to my WNet connection… I started to love it =P

Conclusion:
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! I can come here whenever I finish my college. I can hide from the world in here.

I got out of Marina Mall around 19:00 thinking of heading back home. Then I thought of going to my ol’ Dunkin’ Donuts. So I thought (why not try a new place and hunt for a good coffee house?). I was close enough to go to Caribou Coffee in the Raya Complex when I called my friend asking him to join me. He told me to go to Caribou Coffee in the Free Trading Zone (Elman6aqa el7urra). So I did.

In fact, I’m writing this post over there. And I kinda like it.

Prices:
* A bit high. But worths the stuff… I got a TANK of green tea for 0.950KD with 1.250KD Tuna sandwich.
* It’s still not as costy as Starbucks… I loved it.

Space:
* Right now I’m sitting on a Leather Seat with some cool air coming down at me. The PERFECT atmosphere to relax (if not sleep =P). Alot of Leather seats and less Wooden chairs. Wide coffee tables.
* I didn’t explore the space perfectly, but there seem to be some study rooms close. Likie likie likie
* Enough parking lots.

Quality:
* Decently fresh stuff… Loved their Tuna sandwich and their Dragonite Green Tea (or whatever its called).

Atmosphere:
* It IS quite!!! I mean, so quite that you can sleep peacefully!!
* Good taste of music.
* No crowd… Not alot of people.

Notes:
* Alot of electricity sockets.
* 1 Hour on each purchase. Printed on the invoice (Don’t drop that!!)
* I’m going to explore this coffee house again and again. I’ll provide you with more details
* Clean toilets and clean place.

Conclusion:
I started to love this place already. I’d sit here nothing less than 2 Hours. I don’t think I’ll find any better coffee house. But I still need to look for new ones.

I wrote about what I think of Dunkin’ Donuts near AL-Fanar. So I thought of giving it another try to have a better idea.

I went to Dunkin’ Donuts around 13:30 till around 20:45 and I’m planning to stay till maybe 23:30 or something.

Goods happened:
* Quiteness.
* Never complained about sitting there for a long time.
* Mostly empty (while the top roof has decent amount of people… I wonder why no one sits downstairs).
* I owned a spot that fits more 5 people. No one complained (and it got its own electricity socket).
* There’s a free WiFi spot near us (though I use my Wnet card).

Bads happened:
* Marina and Salmiya ill-mannered teenagers passed by and they were so annoying and loud. I could barely concentrate on what I was doing.
* Still bad taste of musics. Gladly I have my iPod.
* No ceramic cups for inside coffee. Just those foamy cups but thats OK.

Conclusion:
COME HERE ON WEEKDAYS!!! DON’T COME BY WEEKENDS OR YOU’LL BE ANNOYED BY THOSE LOUD AND ILL-MANNERED TEENAGERS!!!