An Aussie Thanksgiving

Hello once again, I am back to report more from the exciting city of Kuwait. The only place where you can find in the local newspaper that someone has been arrested for suspicion of having fun! (no joke)! Thankfully I have not been in trouble for doing any such thing although I must admit I am guilty of having fun this past week! As some of you will know November 24 was the American Holiday Thanksgiving and since Steve's girlfriend Sherry is a Yank we Aussies decide to help her celebrate Thanksgiving....oh and her birthday which was on the Friday!

Ted who was so kind to invite us all around to his place on the Friday avro to have a few beverages (which Ted does a fantastic job of brewing himself) and to gorge our selves on Turkey, Lamb, Fish and baked potatoes and lots lots more. We were also introduced to the American favorite Pumpkin Pie, which I must say was actually really yummy...I was very impressed. Ted also showed his culinary skills by making Sherry a Pavlova birthday cake! Oh and I think one of the highlights of the night was the Tim Tams hoo ray!!! Which they are now selling at the Sultan Centre (the supermarket where most westerners shop).

All in all it was a fab night, great to get together with every one again and to catch up on the bitching about life in Kuwait. Below are some pics from the night so you can see who all my fab new mates are. Get my car this week which is very exciting so hopefully will be scooting around taking plenty more photos for you all to enjoy. Keep the emails coming love to get them.

Enjoy.......

Mads and Sherry!

Madeline and Steve at the Bar, Ted, Me and Paul behind!

Same as above but with out moi instead Sherry is next to Steve!

Christine & Copper at the bar!

Madeline, Sherry & Me!

Kicked Out of Kuwait

Well this week has certainly been interesting. It kicked off with a fabulous weekend as I got to see some camels!!! Sherry and Steve felt sorry for me that I had been in Kuwait for 2 months and was yet to see a camel. So come Friday they picked me up and took me on a little excursion!

First we went to the Friday Markets which are sort of like a flee market. Sherry and Steve were greatly impressed although also disappointed for my sake that they had finally gone up market! In the past these markets where held in a dusty dirty parking lot with the blazing sun burning above you. With little Indian guys running around behind you with wheelbarrows to carry your purchases. However the Markets now are under cover and on top of a cement slab. The Market actually seemed calmer and more controlled than the highways of Kuwait! So we wondered about the market where you can buy any thing from a black sheik (the black dress the women wear) to a grinder. From carpets to remote controls. It was an interesting shopping experience. After this my guides took me out of the city and into an area called Jarah. This is where the city ends and the desert begins. On our way out there we actually passed some Indian guys all dressed in their cricket whites ready to start a test match on the roughest pitch Steve and I have ever seen! On further from there we came upon the Camel herders. I have pictures below of the camels and the tents that these guys live in. Quite amazing really and I dunno how they put up with all that dust!

The next day I was back at work, learning my lessons for the week and practicing my Handstands, and Cartwheels when my boss informs me that I will be going to Bahrain tomorrow as my visa has run out and I need to leave the Country!!! When I first arrived in Kuwait I arrived on a tourist visa valid for 1 month whilst they sorted out my papers for my work visa when the month was up they extended it 2 more times for me but the third time we asked for an extension they said no! So I had to leave Kuwait and then come back in to pick up another tourist visa. Strange system really but doesn't surprise me in the least...This is after all Kuwait!

So the next day I was booted out of the country to enjoy a day trip to Bahrain. Those of you not up to date with your Middle Eastern geography Bahrain is a small island country off the coast of Saudi Arabia. I arrived in the morning and after quickly purchasing a visa I took off to explore. Bahrain is really well looked after with quirky, narrow but clean streets. I happily stolled around checking out all the shops and the sites and the only stares I received were from shop keepers wanting me to come in and spend my money in their shops; rather than from creepy men giving me suggestive looks. Bahrain is considered on of the more liberal countries of the Middle East and also sells alcohol legally. Whoo hoo I thought I had gone to heaven. I enjoyed a scrumptious lunch which was accompanied by not one but three glasses of cold, crisp white wine....ahhhh.

My stay was only short however before I new it I was back at the airport heading for Kuwait again. I picked up my new visa with out any dramas and was back at work that night! Other news this week is that we actually had a thunder storm! Kuwait nearly drowned in all the rain and the mud as they don't quite have a drainage system in place yet! Any hoos enjoy the photos below and I will be sure to keep rambling on in future so stay tuned....

Ali

Camels & Bahrain Photos

This is a part of "Tent City" an area just out of Kuwait where the camel herders live. These are just a few of them there were quite a lot out there.

This sewing machine was for sale at the Friday Markets, along with plenty more interesting gems!

This guy was running late for the Camel Conference!

The Camel Conference!

Ah...This is a sheep being skinned by one of the tent guys! Notice the hygienic conditions he is working in!! (Sorry to any vegetarians!)

I like to call this guy the real life "Colin The Camel"

Another poor sheep!

A close up of the tent in the back ground of the picture above. Just some men sitting around while a sheep is being skinned outside their window....LOVELY!!

More Camels just sitting around chilling out in the Kuwait sunshine.

One of the little streets in Bahrain, notice it doesn't have the rubbish that the streets of Kuwait have!

Some spices for sale out the front of a shop in Bahrain. Middle East is spice heaven!

My first glass of wine! What can I say I wanted to savor the moment!

These pipes are commonly seen around Kuwait and also Bahrain. You smoke a very strong tobacco through them. I think its called Sheesha (but don't quote me on that!) There are lots of sheesha cafes where men in White sit around smoking and getting high not to mention frightfully congested lungs from smoking the tobacco. I have wanted to take a photo of someone actually smoking them but for now a display in a shop will have to do!

Long Awaited Photos!

My apartment building! We are up on the 8th floor 2nd from the top. This bulidng is at the nice end of the street...

This lovely building is down the other end of my street, notice the flash new cars out the front!

A local bus stop!

This is a front part of the Marina Mall. Notice the green grass, the palm tree, the paving..It looks like a shopping mall from pretty much any where else in the world....Now look at the next picture.....

OK this is a shop right across the street! Notice the difference? And these buildings are right next to each other! This is what I mean by the lavish and well looked after next to the dirty and dusty ! Hate that sand to by the way its everywhere!

The Beach near the Marina - This is nice beach but very rarely used, swimming and sunbaking is not really a done thing here!!

I am not sure what this monument is in aid of as I was to lazy to walk out to check it out. :) However it looks good and I assume it has something to do with Ships hahaha sorry maybe I need to read more about Kuwait landmarks and Kuwaiti History!!

Marina Mall a popular shopping area for westerners and locals - its one of the nicer parts of town!

A view of the City from the Marina - Rather hazy day!

This fountain is inside Marina Mall I actually didn't want to take a photo of the fountain rather the guy in traditional dress - :) he just happened to turn around at the right time!! This is what most of the men wear around town! Hmmm very attractive!!

A view down our street from our apartment

The view from our balcony

A famous landmark in Kuwait The Kuwait Towers

A view of the towers from the bottom :) Am yet to go up the top!