Happy Birthday Dana
Last Wednesday we celebrated Dana’s - @purplehaze_d – birthday at Pink Coffee office 
The team surprised her with a BIG birthday car, balloons, flowers, and cake! In the end, the balloons were let go free up high in the sky… I will let the pictures do the talking here And Dana… MANY Happy returns :* We love you loads xoxo
CAKE TIME… two cakes from November Bakery and a Macaroon tower from Laduree
Balloons Time!! Up high… in the sky
Happy New Year 2012
عيدكم مبارك
Happy Birthday Dalal
We had a mini celebration at work earlier today… It was our fabulous Dalal’s birthday Many happy returns! Enjoy the pictures
Pink Coffee with Bazaar
Check this out! Pink Coffee made an appearance on Bazaar Magazine Wanna know more about it? Check out their website (link) or grab a free copyat the nearest Starbucks to you
THE PROTÉGÉS G2 – D17
The last day of The Protégés trip to Nepal started off early in the morning. The students went on a one hour airplane tour around the highest summits in Nepal which included the holy mountain and the highest point on earth.
To Mt. Everset 
The Protégés viewed the highest summit on earth, Mt. Everest, and eight other summits. Students noted how they preferred the holy mount to Mt. Everest in terms of how impressive it looked. Each Protégés, including the mentors, had the opportunity to view the mounts from the captains cabin for a short while to fulfill the experience. The entire ride around the summits was surreal, breathtaking and an experience to remember.
Mt. Everest
View from Captains cabin
Shortly after, the Protégés headed out for more sight seeing to a Buddhist temple that had monkeys all around. Few of the monkeys attacked protege Hanan Al Sarraf amongst all students. The tour guide then explained that they attack women because they assume they have fruits in their bags. After walking around the temple, everyone headed to the bus when they saw a rubber snake and all sort of devilish ideas was rushing to their heads. Poor counselor Sharifa was their victim!
To the temple!
At the temple
Before heading back to the hotel they all stopped by an orphanage to give all the junk food mentor Ahmed Al Majed took from the proteges to the orphans.
Protege Reem Al Fahad
All food goes to the orphanage..
It was time for The Protégés to head back home. They stopped shortly for a transit at Dubai International Airport.
Hilariously, Everyone ran to McDonalds once they saw it! As they were not allowed to have any of junk food during their trip.
Protege Badria Al Bader at the airport
During the transit mentor Yarub Burhamah read along the Protégés Shell Silverstein’s poems. Each student used drama props to read his or her chosen Silverstein poem analyzing the meaning behind it. After, the protégés were asked to build a flying object from different tools he provided. The objective of the activity was to show students that they can be creative and not necessarily build the obvious-an airplane.
Mentor Yarub's airport session
Creating a flying object
Afterwards, Everyone headed to the plane to head back to Kuwait. A trip of a life time, Nepal what a wonder!!!
THE PROTÉGÉS G2 – D16
Today, The proteges got up a bit later than usual heading to the mountains. After a long ride, they finally got to their destination; a resort on the Himalaya mountain. An amazing scenery from the top that stole everyone’s breath!
- View from the top of The Proteges hotel
- Mentor Al Bahar & Protege Abdullah Khaja
Mentor Yarub Burhama continued his ‘out of the box’ session reading “Hope for the flowers” by Trina Paulus. The story revolves around tons of caterpillars that fight to reach the top while most of them do not know what are they fighting for. The story mostly focused on the importance of defining one’s own goals or dreams in life, and not following other’s. Mentor Burhama engaged the proteges in some activities before reading the story to proof the point.
- Mentor Yarub
- Protege Reham Al Mutairi reading the story
By then, the weather kept getting better and the clouds kept getting lower till it reached the level where everyone was seated! Yup amazing!
After getting back to the hotel and freshening up, there was a band playing at the lobby where the students joined and played along and went to a market where they enjoyed their times there, from electricity shutting off to laughters and smiles.
I can definitely say the proteges are having the time of their lives learning from a whole new experience.
THE PROTÉGÉS G2 – D15
Out of all the good times that the Proteges have spent in Nepal, the fourth day of their trip was probably the most hectic and most entertaining. The day began when the students felt their craving to the junk food they brought along.
With a half-hour airplane trip from Pokhara to Kathmandu. The proteges then checked back into the Hyyat Regency hotel.
Heading back to Kathmandu
They were kindly given an hour to prepare their belongings and rest before the next trip. While in the hotel, the proteges witnessed the preparations of a wealthy family wedding at the hotel. Afterwards, they went to a temple thats a fifteen minute walk from the Hyyat Regency.
Hotel view
Mentor Shamlan with Arby; the famous tour guide 
On the way to the temple..
At the temple the proteges learned about the diversity of religions in Nepal and the history of each, it was beautiful how most of them simply calls for peace. Therefore, the proteges toured around the temple and were able to shop at the small, numerous boutiques around it. Within two hours the proteges returned back to the hotel to rest and pack the souvenirs they have bought.
At the temple
The proteges were to meet again at the lobby. As the proteges left the hotel, they found out that the wedding rituals began. One of those rituals was dancing outside with a band of five and drums. When the groom arrived at the premises, the proteges left for their next destination.
Today was Mentor Shamlan Al Bahar’s birthday. So the proteges brought in a cake and some candles to celebrate his birthday. When they finished eating and celebrating, the proteges returned to the hotel. Most of the proteges agreed that this was one of the best days of their lives and guaranteed they would never forget.
The wedding
THE PROTÉGÉS G2 – D14
On July the 8th The Proteges were at Pokhara, Nepal. As usual everything was planned and they did not have any idea what is going to happen during that day. To their surprise! They were going to hike a 5000 feet mountain!!
Healthy breakfast
The proteges were very excited to the idea of reaching the peak of a mountain!!While hiking some proteges got tired and exhausted and others stopped for a short break but soon enough everyone got back on track!
Hiking
Half way through !
As they were getting closer they saw how bad and tiring the lives of the Nepalese people; small houses, kids with torn clothes. But despite all the obstacles they might face everyday, the proteges saw something fascinating. They saw an old woman carrying heavy weight behind her back all by herself; ironically that old woman smiled at the proteges and there was not even a single drop of sweat on her forehead. This simple scene touched them deeply. The message of her simple smile without any exchange of words was understood; life is beautiful and no matter how much and how big your problems seem to be, it is not worth your sadness nor your madness. “This positive energy of hers illuminated and gave us the positive energy and that extra boost that was needed to reach the peak” said protege Yaqoub Al Nafisi.
"Smile..."
Moreover, The Proteges were mostly surprised by the Nepalese people, because there were the ones who admired the beautiful scenery and no matter how many times they saw the same view their eyes were glowing every time.
“Our jaws dropped and we almost drooled when we reached the top. Deep inside I was asking myself could heaven be any better?” states one of the proteges. It was naturally breathtaking and exquisite landscape scenery. The proteges have also learned a lesson, to reach your target the hard way is the best so that you would actually appreciate it. If they have landed at the top of the mountain by a helicopter they wouldn’t have appreciated the scenery as much as they did when they cooled down and laid on the grass.
Protege Abdulwahab Buhaimed mesmerized by the view
Others took pictures of the temple that was there. Mentor Ahmed Al Majed went back down to bring up those who wanted to rest so they would join for the session Mentor Yarub Burhama prepared. Yup a session on top of a mountain, surely none of the proteges ever imagined that !!
At the top of the mountain
Temple
Mentor Burhama started his ‘thinking out of the box’ session by reading some Jubran Khalil Jubran’s literature asking the proteges what do they think the poet meant and discussing the brilliant writings of Jubran. Then, He showed them a book of an american artisit, Norman Rockwell, who draws real life pictures creatively asking each student to choose a picture they like and state why. Last part of the session was a book by Shel Silverstein, The giving tree. The proteges read and acted the book which basically emphasized the importance of giving.
Proteges Reem Al Fahad & Fatma Al Omar
After getting down from the mountain. The proteges went to visit a Tibetan refugee camp where they had the chance to meet some hard working refugees. They also went to see and buy some of the hand-woven carpets and bags, and how it was made. It was amazing how they lived in harmony and how they created a home for their selves.
Protege Sara Al Qabandi
The day ended with a soccer match, stunned with mentor Shamlan Al Bahar’s tricks! But of course the winning team was mentor Ahmed Al Majed’s team.
End of the day..
THE PROTÉGÉS G2 – D13
The Protégés kick-started their first morning in the magnificent Nepal bright and early, not knowing what they are going to do in the next couple of hours. Much to their surprise, The Protégés were told to repack their luggage and finish their breakfast quickly.
As they were leaving the lobby to enter the bus a spur-of-the-moment health inspection on the food The Protégés brought with them was conducted by mentor Ahmed Al Majed. All sad and gloomy (without their junk food), The Protégés continued their trip on the Yeti Airlines to Pokhara, the tourist capital of Nepal. The plane itself was new experience to most of the student
Health inspection
:(
Yeti Airlines
In Pokhara The Protégés directly went to The Fulbari Resort & Spa. Mesmerized by the view, they spent hours exploring the hotel’s enormous gardens, the serene rivers, and the magnificence of the Himalayas rising behind them to create an ambience of peace and magic.
Protege Abdullah Khaja with the famous tour guide
The breathtaking view!
After a quick rest and a (healthy) snack, The Protégés left to a bazaar-like street where they were divided amongst the mentors and started to roam the streets. After a couple of hours or so of discovering the beautiful cow-filled streets of Pokhara, it started to rain and the entire group met up in a café (god bless Wi-Fi
Cow filled streets
In the café, The Protégés ate and drank Nepali Tea, which surprisingly tastes a lot like a spicy Chai Latte. Later, The Protégés went back to the hotel and carried on the rest of the night with an indulging game of charades and another game which tested their general information conducted by the mentors. All worn-out and exhausted, they went to catch some shut-eye, not knowing about the adventures that follow
