International Writing Competition 2017

The Seplaa Young Leaders’ believe that the pen is mightier than the sword and in this digital age, the tap of the keyboard can connect worlds and people.

Seplaa therefore want to encourage young people all over the world to use their words to connect with each other and let us see inside their worlds, to be able to learn from one another.

Theme: “What I Call Beautiful”

Sharing stories is the best way to connect.

Share your stories by applying for the Seplaa Young Leaders’ Club International Writing Competition 2017.

For more information please write to Amal Malik at contact.sylc@gmail.com.

See International Writing Competition Rules & Details for 2017 here.

Download SYLC International Writing Competition Details 2017. 

Moving It For The Rohingya

The Rohingya people have been cruelly tormented by their home country, Myanmar. They have been fleeing Myanmar for years and live in impoverished, terrible conditions wherever they are. One tends to feel helpless when we see so much suffering far away, but now a much-awaited initiative has been launched by the Founder of Hope for Exceptional Needs and my good friend Dr. Uzma Raheem.

From the 19th September to 1st October you can now participate in a clothing drive for some of the Rohingya people settled in Hyderabad. Please drop off clothes, blankets, bedsheets, undergarments and socks at the locations mentioned below. Spread the word to your friends and your neighbours. Let’s work together to make this campaign a success!

For Jeddah Only

What you will pack in the cartons will not be clothing, it will be your Akhirah. Pack accordingly.

Clothing is the most visible and the most agonizing and obvious part of poverty. This campaign is meant to bring some relief to those Rohingyas undergoing genocide. Its also meant to bring dignity and some sense of normalcy to these poor displaced group.

“They are your brothers, give them to wear what you wear and give them to eat what you eat” Prophet Mohammed SAW

Keeping this wisdom and guidance in mind, we need to make sure of the following:

❌ No dirty, torn and unwashed clothing/undergarment/lingerie
❌No buttons missing please
❌No soleless and damaged shoes or shoes with heels
❌No brassiere with missing hooks and straps

♥️We appreciate and thank everyone who can wash and iron what they give. Let us give with respect and dignity.

The miracle of this life is that when we heal a vulnerable and fragile soul, our own soul heals.

Let us heal together.

📍NOTE-
collection drop off points only for material items. For funds please contact the assigned persons listed for the Khak e Taiba Trust.

Kidzmamia: Entrepreneurship for Children

Kidzmamia was an event held last month by Elite Club Jeddah at Salt n Pepper Restaurant in an effort to foster entrepreneurial skills amongst children. The idea was for the kids to book stalls which were then set up and managed by the children themselves. A total of nineteen stalls were booked within two days. The children made banners and set up the food, drinks and games.

The purpose of the event was to boost self-confidence in the children, enhance their creativity, develop their skills of communication and social dealing, and create a sense of optimism, hard-work, and competitiveness. Their happy faces and heavy pockets at the end of the evening was an indication that they had indeed gained a great deal from the activity.

A charity box was also set up to encourage the children to think about those less fortunate than themselves.

If you were at the event, see if you can spot yourself in the slideshow below. Did you enjoy yourself? Leave a comment and let us know!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

by Saniya Owais

Click here for more information on Elite Club Jeddah.

Playgroup: Mamas and Munchkins

Is your toddler getting to the age where they need some other stimulation than home based activities? Do you want your little angel to be able to socialise with other playmates?Mamas and Munchkins is a mother and toddler group based on free play with plenty of toys, outdoor play area, arts and craft activity, book corner, sit and ride zone, singing and story time.

Mama and Munchkins cater for 0-3 years. They are based near Kayal Street, Rawdah and classes take place on Tuesdays from 9:00-11:00.The price is SR30 per session.  Snacks and refreshments for attendees will also be on offer.

For further info, join their Facebook page.

 

 

Off-Broadway Show iLuminate™ Comes to Jeddah!

iLuminate™, the Off-Broadway smash spectacle is a visual feast. They wowed the USA with their groundbreaking light suits and innovative dance moves on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” where the dance-in-the-dark sensation was selected as one of the hit show’s top finalists after judge Piers Morgan called them “The Best New Act in America!”

You can get hold of your tickets here.

Firstly, a massive thank you to iLuminate™ for inviting Jeddah Blog to watch their show. As if it wasn’t enough to be invited, we were given VIP tickets and prime seating at the event. Special mention goes to Mohammed AlSayed from Katch who very smoothly sorted it all out for us.

A word about the organisers first. I have never, ever seen such an organised crew. We arrived in good time at the venue – the King Abdullah Sports Stadium. There were plenty of event members throughout, from the parking lot to the ticket booth, security and within the stadium itself. Each and every member of staff was so well-trained, so extremely polite and helpful – we were frankly amazed. Even during the interval, cleaners arrived to collect any loose rubbish. For daily show timings check here.

Now coming to the show itself. This is a highly charged, action packed show. There is dance, music and technology combined together with a great storyline. There are lots of ‘wow’ moments and the show succeeds in keeping your attention throughout.

The story revolves around Jacob, a shy young artist who discovers a magic paintbrush. He falls in love with a girl called Ali, but ends up having his magic brush stolen by the show’s villain Darius.

There are plenty of dance routines during this journey, two of my favourite being the Michael Jackson medley and the Bruno Mars song. The show even gets interactive with the audience when Jacob and friends have to crack the code to the portal and ask a little audience member to help them out. Other music featured in the show includes James Brown, Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, LMFAO, The Wanted and Sam Smith.

The audience are asked to put away their mobile phones as the glare can interfere with the show – I wish everyone had complied with that request. There were a few people who somehow continued to insist on using their phones despite repeated reminders. Kindly note, when you attend this show, for the sake of others’ enjoyment, please please put away your phones and savour the moment.

Lastly, I must make mention of the audience, which was energetic, responsive and highly entertained. People are starving for family entertainment here in Jeddah and I hope that iLuminate™ will be the first of many world class acts to perform here.

Art and Craft Classes

Regular Art and Craft Classes for children are being held at the Art and Craft Studio every Saturday. Details are as follows:

Time: 5-6:30pm.

Cost: SR150 pcm
Age: 4-12 years

Location: Near Al Ruwili Hospital, Bani Malek

HOPE Summer of Therapies

HOPE for Exceptional Needs is running a unique pilot program for this summer starting on the 10th of July 2016.

📍A summer of therapies strictly one-on-one basis offering intensive training.

📍Two months of skill acquisition and development in all therapuetic areas.

📍Call, message or whatsapp on:

056 663 1176

056 695 6887

📍Email:

Info@hopeksa.org

📍Transportation available

 

Learning Compassion Through Animals

The decision to adopt a pet is a big one, and should be taken with a great deal of thought about the responsibility involved and the care that has to be provided. The upside is that not only adults but children too learn a lot from caring for a pet. In our latest blog post, Jeddah Blog’s animal lover and Founder of Pets in Need Sonja Svensek discusses the ways in which adopting a pet positively affects the lives of their owners.

What it takes to have a big heart

Two years ago a medium sized Maltese mix was brought to us by a group of workers who had found him and were unable to keep him. Word got round quickly that we are animal lovers and would never refuse an animal in need, so it was common that we were either brought unwanted pets to us or others dumped outside our home. People have always asked me what it takes to have ‘big heart’ to help animals. I never quite understood the question since it’s a natural instinct for me and many other animal lovers to do whatever we can to help a pet in need. “You are a compassionate person!”, they’d say. However people might not realize that compassion can be taught and inspired onto others. The more we instill this in our household especially around younger children, the more they grow up to be more in tune and connected to other beings.

Children and pets

Studies have shown that having a pet at home decreases depression, increases feelings of joy and a sense of well-being. A pet teaches us a lot in relation to responsibility and how someone else’s needs can be fulfilled. A pet also shows us that they have feelings too, they cry, they feel pain and they can feel happy too. It doesn’t become just about ‘us’ but also another beings life that is dependent on us.  Children learn what it means to care for a pet, by feeding it, playing with it and caring for it. They start to learn what makes the pet happy and slowly understand that certain behaviors trigger certain actions.  There are also many health benefits linked to owning a pet. A study in the Journal of Pediatrics shows that children who had a dog during the first year of their life had higher immune response, with 31% fewer respiratory tract infections than those without.

Children with autism, other spectrum disorders or ADHD can experience lowered blood pressure and better cognitive and communication gains when able to participate in therapy dog programs.

Pets and Disabilities

More help centers in Saudi Arabia are introducing animals in their healing programs with children as children respond quicker and show more progress when there is a animal involved in their learning process.

A family I know adopted a disabled dog to teach their children that disabilities are not to be feared, judged or criticized. The children both under the age of 12, bonded with their dog so well that the parents have noticed a change in their view towards other people. These will be children growing up with a better understanding of how we might all be different, but that we are equal.

Though more and more research suggests that animals instill compassion and connection in children, it is important to note that pets should never be bought as a gift for anyone, and should be thoroughly discussed with the person or family in question beforehand. Sadly on the other side of the spectrum, there are also parents who buy a kitten for their child where the child treats the kitty as a toy and instead of learning about responsibilities of caring for him/her, they gain feelings of power and strength over another helpless being. This is where animal abuse and neglect can start-that there aren’t any responsible adults to guide and support the proper caring and nurturing of pets at home.

If you are considering adopting a pet, all family members need to be involved in the decision process to better prepare and understand what each one can do to help and what each will be responsible for. There is no denying that owning a pet is one of the most rewarding things in life but it does take genuine good willed effort. I personally don’t like the term ‘owning a pet’ since they are not objects nor property we can use, so it’s helpful to change our outlook that instead of owning a pet, we choose to care for a pet.

Pets in schools

According to the Tolerance Project website, it’s not only through pets at home that compassion can be taught. Schools should introduce children to pets as part of the curriculum. Children learn about race, how different coloured cats don’t make them any different than another coloured cat and so on. They also learn to develop their curiosity, by learning about pets eating habits, the environment they live in, the care that’s is required and so on.

It is no surprise then that some schools even have their own school ‘pets’ commonly guinea pigs or hamsters in the classroom where the children take it in turns to handle the animal, as well as change its water and give it food. When I was a child our class had a hamster. Over time, we learnt how to trust the pet and being trusted in return, and were allowed to take the hamster home for the weekend. I felt such a sense of pride and responsibility knowing that I was chosen to take the class hamster home for the weekend that I couldn’t sleep; waking up every few hours to check that he was alight.

That sense of purpose instilled in me affected me in a beautiful way that few months later upon insisting to my parents that I wanted a hamster of my own, I got one. Gizmo was my first pet and I loved nothing more than playing with him and being with him whenever possible. I also got used to the tough side of things, the parts most children and some adults alike find tedious, though very necessary; like the part that involves cleaning its cage, and changing the water and so on but over time I learnt about cause and effect, responsibility and the fact that this live and breathing creature was relying completely on me.

Having a pet as a child also taught me about detachment; that even though I gained a best friend in my pet, I didn’t own him, and that one-day he too would pass away. It was a difficult time when my furry friend passed away, but I was blessed to have had the year that I did with him. The pain never gets easier when another pet dies, but I have been able to deal with the situation more realistically in my adult years thanks to the very first pet I had when I was a child. 

There is still a stigma attached to having a pet at home, but it’s positive to see this slowly changing in this society. Owning a pet is a big, and sometimes a costly, responsibility. A pet should always be treated as part of your family and not just for when it’s convenient, cute or small.

While not every child who is cruel to a pet grows up to be a criminal, there is a strong correlation between cruel behavior toward animals and lack of empathy for human beings

Learning Compassion in Adulthood

Even if a household doesn’t consist of children, it is never too late to learn compassion in adulthood. Psychology reviews state that it is possible to change our mindset and learn to care and feel empathy for others even in later years. Just like we can train people to hurt, injure or abuse an animal, we can turn this around to train them how to be more caring. But learning about suffering is not enough. It’s important that children and adults alike, talk about their feelings and understand what they are feeling to better understand feelings of others.

It is far more complex and very different from individual to individual as to why they abuse animals, but the notion that it can be stopped and at times even trigger guilt and remorse in them is possible. According to the American library Association article entitled ‘Be kind to Animals’, it is more beneficial to start inspiring and teaching the young in being kind to animals, because ..”By the time they exhibit cruel behavior toward animals it is often very difficult to change that behavior, making it essential that adults in every part of the community help children learn to treat animals with kindness. While not every child who is cruel to a pet grows up to be a criminal, there is a strong correlation between cruel behavior toward animals and lack of empathy for human beings.”

Compassion starts at home, and animals should not be used as punching bag or experiment tool for this. Education, love in action and getting children as well as adults involved in the process of caring, rescuing and helping animals can grow more compassionate beings.

Selflessness, Gratitude and Appreciation

The more we, as a collective society teach our children, our neighbours and perhaps our elders too, that animals have a soul, feel pain and should not be treated as ‘things’, the more we will have a better understanding of ourselves and each other including the environment we live in. This brings forth gratitude, the appreciation of helping a helpless being at the mercy of your hands, the gratitude in knowing that this is not being done for any monetary, status or ego driven rewards, but rather much deeper and bigger more meaningful act of kindness, which can inspires compassion in other too.

Top Tourism Attractions in Jeddah!

Jeddah, the wonderful city of Saudi Arabia, is steadily growing in stature as the commercial capital and a gateway to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The most easygoing city of Saudi Arabia, Jeddah has a rich history of trade and commerce through its port, in the bygone era.

Today, Jeddah is changing its image with innovative architecture and design. The Corniche and seafront has been tastefully developed along with interesting public squares and upscale shopping malls. It also has a reputation of serving delectable, fresh, sea food and international cuisine. There is lots to do in Jeddah and Saurabh Das gives us his top tips on what to see and where to go in the city.

Corniche at Sunset with King Fahd’s Fountain in the background. Photo Credit: Tim E White

King Fahd’s Fountain

King Fahd’s Fountain is the world’s largest water fountain, and is located on the newly decorated Jeddah Corniche. Visit the Fountain in the evening to see its wonderful lighting effects. The fountain was constructed between 1980 and 1983, and was inaugurated in 1985. The Fountain jets water to a height of 853 meters with a maximum speed of 375 kilometers per hour, and is visible throughout the city of Jeddah!

Balad, The Historic District.
Photo Credit: Joanna Browne.

Balad

Balad is the old part of Jeddah and reminds one of the bygone glory of the city. This is the location where the first settlement of Jeddah was established by fishermen over 2,500 year ago. The port of Jeddah received millions of devotees, who arrived in the country via sea, to visit the holy sites of Mecca and Medina. The architecture in Balad mainly showcases traditional coral stones and woodwork of Roshan which helps to regulate the flow of air.

The Floating Mosque (halaltrip.com)

Floating Mosque

The beautiful Floating Mosque is located on the North Corniche, jutting out from the Red Sea. Its unique architecture and positioning gives out an illusion as if it is floating on water. The interiors are wonderfully decorated, made of shining white marble. The mosque is also a favourite spot for Mecca bound pilgrims during their stay in Jeddah.

Medina Gate

The Bab Medina Gate is a part of the old city wall that used to enclose the old historic neighbourhood of Balad on all sides. Today, the city gate is the only remaining part of that wall. The Medina Gate is an imposing city gate, made up of limestone and embedded with corals, and is wonderfully illuminated in the evening with stunning lighting effects.

Makkah Gate

Makkah Gate

Makkah Gate, one of the oldest structures in Saudi Arabia, also known as the “Quran Gate”, is located on the Makkah Mukkarram road of the Jeddah-Makkah highway. It is the official entrance to the holy city of Makkah and the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad. The gate was designed in 1979 by an Egyptian architect, Samir Elabd, and the structure is an elegant representation of the Holy Quran resting on a book stand.

Jeddah Corniche

The Jeddah Corniche is an amazing waterfront which has been redeveloped into a contemporary Red Sea playground. The Corniche runs all along the waterfront for over 60 kilometers. The north and south of the Corniche has good beaches and coral reefs, which can be best explored by scuba diving and deep sea diving.

Fakieh Aquarium

Saudi Arabia’s only aquarium for public, the Fakieh Aquarium is an amazing destination which offers a comprehensive insight into the marine biology of the Red Sea, as well as from other seas and oceans from all over the world. Close to 200 species of sharks, dolphins, sea lions, groupies, sting rays, napoleon wrasse, sea horses, Murrays, and sea dragons, among others.    

Silver Sands Beach
Photo Credit: Joanna Browne

Silver Sands Beach

Silver Sands beach is an exclusive, well-maintained beach in Jeddah, which is a hotspot for expats living in the city. The beach has lovely palm trees amidst the backdrop of the shimmering Red Sea. It offers excellent swimming and water sports facilities, along with a restaurant, an exclusive club and many more amenities.

Mall of Arabia

The Mall of Arabia is a highly popular shopping mall located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and is located on the eastern side of Medina Road. The mall is located close to the King Abdulaziz International Airport, and features Kidzania, Billy Beez and Vortex – three amazing kid’s entertainment zones.

Souk Al Alawi (Getty Images)

Souq Al Alawi

The Souq Al Alawi is one of the traditional souqs of the country, and is located in the heart of the old city. This place is an amazing destination, if you’re looking to buy genuine Arabian jewelry, Islamic art, and traditional dresses. Bargaining is encouraged by the local merchants here, and the souq is extremely pedestrian-friendly, giving you a great shopping experience without the disturbance of bikes and cars.

2nd Annual Pediatric Screening

Project Mercy of Madinah and Hope Center are teaming up for the Second Annual Pediatric screening event to be held in Madinah on the 25th and 26th of December, 2015.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to go to AdDaar hospital right across from Masjid Quba, and enquire about their child’s development, regardless of whether they have already been diagnosed or not. The screening is completely free of charge.

Uzma Raheem, director of Hope Center says, “Residents of Madinah, here is your chance to avail diagnostic and therapeutic consultancy for free for your child. If your child has problems in behaviour, speech, reading, writing, walking, medical or psychological, join the event at Al Daar Hospital, opposite Masjid Quba.”

 

 

 

How to Shop for Video Games in Jeddah

Tamim Kashgari and Ahmed Jadaa are two people who take their gaming seriously. After spending a decade outside the Kingdom, Tamim returned to an unfamiliar gaming market. He tried asking around and searching online, but says that he found the information “superficial at best”.

To rectify this situation, Tamim and Ahmed began The Mouse and Controller, a blog dedicated to their love of gaming in 2012. The duo have teamed up to write this guest post, exclusively for Jeddah Blog, to give our readers the low-down on the gaming market in Jeddah. They answer crucial questions such as, who are the best and the worst retail outlets for video games? and are there any used games stores in Jeddah?

Read on to discover their top tips on how we can get the best deals on our games, and their secret to escaping the high prices and poor customer service so rampant in the Jeddah gaming market.

So you have your eye on the latest release and you’re wondering where to buy it from. Let’s take a close look at all the video game retailers in Jeddah and give them scores based on a tier system. The grid we have formulated scores the stores on a scale of 1 to 10 and is based on the following factors:

• Convenience of store location (how many stores do they have and where are they located?)
• Size of inventory (do they have a wide variety of games?)
• Relevance of inventory (do they have the latest games?)
• Customer service (attitude and knowledge of sales staff)
• Prices (are they overly priced or reasonable?)

Let’s discuss each of these stores in detail:

S-Tier: Tokyo Games alone at the top

With a total score of 36, Tokyo Games is pretty much sitting pretty with a fairly large gap.

Mediocre customer service and high pricing, with games at around SR 250 each, is pretty normal in Saudi Arabia as a whole and Tokyo Games is no exception. The sales representatives are a tad more informed at Tokyo Games, but they are by no means helpful. The big glaring flaw at Tokyo Games is the fact that they sell no PC games at all, or any accessories that a PC game can actually use. They are entirely a console-focused business. 

However, looking beyond those flaws, Tokyo Games is the most successful retail company that sells video games in Jeddah. The fact that they are the most widespread company in the city with almost a dozen outlets means that you are never that far away from a store. However, not all branches are created equal. There is a clear lack of quality maintenance across all stores with the ones in the more high profile locations having better maintained stock.

Tokyo Games focuses on the sale of video games which means that their inventory is usually fully stocked. You can be assured that when it comes to video game systems and their games, if an item isn’t at Tokyo Games it most probably won’t be found anywhere else. You can even order a specific game that may be out of stock via their website and pick it up at one of their outlets which is a unique feature among all retailers in Jeddah. They are also beginning to sell licensed collectibles and models, branching out into a more holistic geek store.

A-Tier: Jarir winning the battle for second place

Jarir is also a long-standing retailer in Saudi Arabia, much like Tokyo Games. The difference between them, however,  is that Jarir is more of a general store selling all manner of school supplies, books, board games, electronics and electronic accessories in addition to video games. Due to their longevity and success in the market, Jarir has many locations within Jeddah.

Due to Jarir’s nature as a general stationery store, they aren’t always up to date when it comes to getting hold of the latest games. The games do seep in eventually as they are one of the biggest retailers in the country, and no distributor will exclude them. They are better stocked when it comes to hardware. Controller accessories, extra wires, etc are easier to find in Jarir compared to other stores.

PC gaming isn’t ignored in Jarir as it is in Tokyo games, so it’s a more holistic experience when it comes to video game shopping.

Unfortunately, and quite typical in KSA, the sales experience and pricing is mediocre. Their sales representatives are neither interested in selling games, nor as informed as a Tokyo Games representative would be.

B-Tier: An Oldie, that is still something of a Goldie, Eagle Games

Now, while nostalgia might be a reason that Eagle Games ended up placing this high. There are some pretty factual realities that ensure the place it holds is deserved. Lets start off with the bad to get it out of the way.

Eagle games is the smallest of these retailers with just a single store in Rawdah, and its not very fancy. Its stock is also quite small. But, what it has going for it is that its stock is relevant even if it does take a little longer to restock if something sells out. Also they sell games at the lowest price of any video game retailer in Jeddah, averaging a price that is at least 40 riyals less on any game.

Eagle games is the only retailer that accepts used games and buys them back from the consumer for a trade in. This alone makes the store a really attractive place to visit if you’re looking to get rid of old games.

C-Tier: Everyone Else

Extra, Computer House and Virgin Megastore occupy the third tier. Extra is primarily an electronics and appliance store with video games being a secondary priority. However, they do have dedicated sections for consoles. Virgin is more of a cultural store selling smaller electronics, novelty items, books and some clothes, along with video games. Computer House is the only store in this group which is a dedicated video game retailer. None of these stores stock new games and Virgin doesn’t stock gaming hardware.

All of them share the uniform subpar customer sales experience and pricing with games almost always being priced at SR 250 regardless of their release date. A game I recently saw at Virgin released back in 2013 was still retailing at full price.

D-Tier: Oh wait, we almost forgot one!

Bringing up the rear, we’ve got Sony World in a league of their own. While Sony World does have three stores in Jeddah, that is about all they have going for them.  Their sales experience and pricing like everyone else, is aggressively mediocre at best.

Sony World’s biggest disadvantage is that they sell only Sony products and goods. The Playstation consoles and games in the shop make it the most limited inventory in the entire market. Since they have no exclusive rights to selling Playstation goods, it makes it pretty meaningless to go here when you go video game shopping.

E-Tier: The jokes, hovels and places you really shouldn’t be going

This bunch of stores is really the bottom of the pile. Outlets such as Mickey Games and X Games have not only outdated designs, but also five year old games. These places can barely be considered real stores. The only reason they do exist is because there aren’t many copyright regulations here that are enforced, so they basically sell pirated material.

Retail can’t compete with this.

Is this good news for the Consumer?

With a complete absence of marketing efforts, there are massive opportunities for video game retail stores to leverage their positions. Currently, both retailers and consumers are losing out.

For example, none of these stores make much of an effort to clear their inventory once new stock comes in. On the rare occasion when they do decide to hold a clearance sale, customers are the last to know. I once walked into Tokyo Games shop to be told that it was the final day of their summer sale with games selling at 75% discount. It’s good they are doing this, but with the lack of any kind of effective communication the consumer will only find out about the sale if they are lucky.

Sales are not only for the benefit of the consumer. It is important to move old stock as it gives a bad impression to see outdated games on the shelf at full price or even at a higher price than newly-released games.

Buyers can take advantage of these lazy marketers though. As there is no competitor monitoring between any of these companies you can see some hilarious price disparity regarding some games. When I went to buy Dead Rising 2 I found it retailing for around SR 200-250 at major stores. Walking into Sony World I found the same game being sold for SR 50!

Most games seem to be priced randomly, so for the more thrifty gamer with time on her hands this means that a substantial amount of money can be saved through scanning prices at the stores before buying.

Coming to some of the more underhand tactics of retail stores in Jeddah, price gouging is quite rampant as there is no real consumer protection in Saudi Arabia. The release of Metal Gear V: Phantom Pain is a great example with Tokyo Games selling copies for as much as SR 450 – nearly double the already high average price.

Used games are ignored by almost all retailers even though they can be a huge part of the business plan of any video game retailer as it is a revenue stream with almost no cost to them generating repeated profits as games can be bought and returned multiple times. GameStop in the US is a great example of this generating nearly 50% of its total revenue from used game sales.

Used games, trade ins and customer loyalty programs. Things that no retailer in Jeddah does.

The Best Option for Gamers

What with outdated stock, high pricing and poor customer service, is there no way out? What can enthusiastic gamers do to get their latest fix?

Gone are the days of Playstation 1 and 2 when there would be lines outside your local Tokyo Games and Computer House asking for the latest Final Fantasy or the newest Resident Evil. With increased internet speeds, acceptance of the use of credit cards and the wider availability of the cash cards that can be purchased and used in online stores, none of us are forced to have to deal with these substandard retailers.

For those who are willing to make the shift, online stores and services are the future, and they are run to a global standard by all major companies like Microsoft (Xbox Marketplace), Sony (PSN), Nintendo (eShop), Valve (Steam), EA (Origin), Ubisoft (Uplay). They offer regular and massive discounts and their customer service is significantly better and more informed than anything that is locally present in the market. It is ironic that not only are local stores being undercut by the very same people that supply their products, but they are sounding their own death knell by selling the same cash cards to be used in these online stores.

You can follow the authors on Twitter as follows:

Tamim Kashgari: @tamimlane

Ahmed Jadaa: @AhmedJadaa.

Village Tots Mummy and Me Playgroup

Village Tots has resumed its weekly sessions at the British Consulate Jeddah. Village Tots are a mummy and me playgroup for ages 0-3, run by volunteer mums and they come together every Wednesday from 9:30-11:30 at the Village Hall in the British Consulate. They are open to all nationalities.

Village Tots offer free playtime in a big play area with lots of different activities that they like to change around. Some of these are big cars the kids can sit in, small cars, blocks, baby toys for a separate baby area, etc.

Every week they have a group activity (arts and crafts, fun with food, parachute fun), snacktime, reading and singsong time. They ask a very small fee of 20 SAR per family.

For more information kindly email them at villagetots@outlook.com

Girls Cake Decoration Course with Wilton Certified Decorator

Get your girls baking with this awesome course tailored for beginners and conducted by a Wilton Certified Decorator.

Course 1 ( Basic to Intermediate Level)

This course is to impart basic to intermediate level of baking to the participants. They get professional baking tips and techniques which are generally not available. Participants will get the basics of baking framework, recipes and that would lead them into unlimited option of combinations to get a variety of taste. These are covered in 4 sessions of 3 hours each. The contents will be as follows:

• Basics of baking

• Reading recipes,

• Measuring, scaling ingredients,

• Timing

• Pan Preparation

• Baking conversions

• Baking substitutions

• Other tips & techniques

• Four different types of cakes

• American Sponge Cake with whip cream icing

• Butter Cake/Cup cake with praline icing

• Chocolate Cake with chocolate icing

• Carrot muffins/cake with cream cheese

• Other Baking

• Basic Sugar Cookies with citrus icing

• Cinnamon rolls with a special icing

• Donuts

• OPTIONAL : (either one of the group may be selected)

Savoury

Pizza

Baked Pasta Garlic Bread

Desserts

Ice cream Turtle Cake Nanaimo Bars

Peach Streusel Coffee Cake

Course 2 will be offered in October to all Course 1 graduates.

Dates: Sept 3,10,17, 21*

Time: 4:30-7:30pm

Venue: map will be mailed to all students

Cost for Course 1: SR 450

Contact Number: 0580318838

*Sept 21st -date subject to change

Summer Camps 2015

As we do each year, Jeddah Blog is compiling a list of Summer Camps and activities for 2015. If you are organising a camp and would like us to publish the details, please do get in touch with the details.

My Creative Ramadan Summer Camp

Dates: 21st June – 7th July, 3 days per week: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday

Time: 12-3pm

Price: SR1200

Ages: 3-7 years

Islamic Hour, Jewelry Making, Arts & Crafts

Ballet – Irish Tap, Cooking, Organic Gardening

Dress-up Story Time and Organic Snacks provided!

Ages 8-15 years:

Islamic Hour, Jewelry Making, Ballet-Irish Tap – Interpretive

Cooking, Organic Gardening, Sewing

Contact 0594846200 or email motion.boutique.jeddah@gmail.com

Summer of Therapies

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Glitter Workshop – 10 Days of Creativeness

For ages 5 years or above.
5 exciting projects. Craft material for each student is included in the package.
Mornings 10am- 12pm
Location: al Hamra, Jeddah
Fee: SR 100
For further details contact 0536330616

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Summer Camp: Summer of Therapies

HOPE- For Exceptional Needs presents a one of a kind school for kids this summer.

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✦ Speech Therapy
✦ Physiotherapy
✦ Occupational Therapy (sensory integrated activities)
✦ Therapeutic Sessions (for learning difficulties)

❗ Independent outpatient sessions for the same are open for children in mainstream schools requiring additional assistance in specialized areas.

❯ BOOK YOUR SPOT
Email: info@hopeksa.org
Call us: 0566956887 / 0566631176 / 0598599573