ANZAK BALL!!

I write this post slightly fuzzy and some what tied as last night was the much anticipated Anzak ball (Australian and New Zealand Association Kuwait) But oh what a night! You can't help but feel pride and patriotic when you get a bunch of Aussies and even the Kiwis together here in Kuwait. It was of course a very late night and plenty of home made booze was there on offer so I won't write much instead I will just let you look at the photos and from there I am sure you will see I had and awesome time!! Go Aussie!

Sherry and Mads at pre ball drinks at Vicky and Wayne's

The lovely couple Sherry & Steve

Ted, Steve and Mark enjoying a beer!

Mads, Ali and Sherry

The sexiest chicks at the Ball!

Those dinner suits look pretty snazzy guys!

This bunch can't be serious for to long!

Mark and Mads

The Divine Miss Madeleine

Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

Smiles all around when you can party in Kuwait!

Lucky table number 9!

Caterina and Cobs (mmm real red wine!!!!)

Bourbon = Ali being an idiot (however, Ted it was bloody nice bourbon thanks)

Yes had had quite a few by this stage, I've got that pissed look about me hahaha!

Failaka Island

This semester The Little Gym has been booming! We set a target for ourselves at the beginning of January to reach 400 members by June. Along with everyone else here I have been working pretty dam hard to make it happen. All the hard work I can happily say has paid off as we managed to reach our goal by April Whoo Hooo!! So to celebrate my boss decided that she would shout us all a trip to Failaka Island. Where??? I hear you ask....

Well, Failaka is an island just off the coast of Kuwait. It takes about 40 minutes to reach it by boat and is full of history and remarkable sites that represent moments through time in Kuwait. The island actually dates back to the bronze age however the Greeks were the ones that actually settled there. Unfortunately we were unable to see the Greek ruins due to the museum being closed but they are there nonetheless. Also, Failaka holds the only historical site in Kuwait, which represents Kuwait before the oil. The Heritage Village was surprisingly really good. It showed how the houses were built back in the day and how the villages operated when Kuwaitis were just mere fisherman and camel herders. Although sadly the site is also managed in true Kuwaiti style, half assed! It was fairly impressive yet there were a few things that really could of made it be an exceptional site of Middle Eastern history and culture.

Failaka was also one area of Kuwait which was heavily attacked during the Gulf war back in 1990. The Iraqis estbished a heavily fortified base on Failaka once they invaded. As we all know Kuwait was liberated in 1991 by Allied forces, yet since then a clean up of the destruction on the island has pretty much been non existent. There are still tanks and artillery about the place and lots of bombed out and bullet ridden houses. I am not sure if they have left it like this to remind them selves of the invasion or because they are simply to lazy to clean it up....I think probably the later! Any ways it was pretty cool to check it out.

This trip was a bit of an unexpected one which I really enjoyed. It was nice to get out in the sunshine and actually discover something about Kuwait instead of sitting around bitching about the place like I normally do on a Friday hahaha! Our group was also quite a strange one. We had a single white female, (me), a Kuwaiti family complete with tag along cousins, an African family and a crazy Bulgarian. What an odd bunch we are!

I have posted below some photos of the day, which also include a photo of my new friend Salem!

P.S 62 Days till I am back in OZ ;)

The gang on the little toot toot that took us from the boat to the Heritage Village!

Some dudes sitting outside the traditional style shop front. Being very typical Kuwaiti by sitting around doing nothing and drinking tea!

Inside the shop was stair well which lead to god knows where possibly the roof ?? But I liked the look of it so hence the photo :)

Out the back of one of the shops is a traditional sweets maker. They cook this syrupy concoction in these huge copper pots and is stirred by hand. It actually taste pretty good!

Inside the Heritage Village that shows how Kuwait used to look before they found oil. Its amazing how clean and nice the place was hahahaha seems they replaced the notion of looking after their community with the oil.

Ahmed in one of the Tanks still sitting around after the invasion.

The gang walking into one of the houses that was heavily attacked during the invasion. Inside we found left over hand grenades, bullets and flares.

I thought this was hilarious. The Burglar alarm was still there and intact hahahaha, I don't think it did the owners of this house much good though.

Solange and Anthony at the front of the house. Notice the sand bags!

Inside a mosque that the Iraqis smashed up when they invaded. Above the arch way it says something like...this is a house of god and you must only worship one god. I don't think the Iraqis were in a worshiping kind of mood that day as they totally destroyed the mosque.

More of the smashed up mosque. There was still glass all over the flour and bullets everywhere. Funnily enough though is was my first time in a mosque!

Salem the Camel and I get acquainted

oooooo Salem stands up and I get ready to take my first camel ride! Wasn't so bad was quite cool actually. Helps that the saddle was really comfy, however I wouldn't like to ride him bare back. It's a long way up as he was a big bugger! Although I survived and now have burning ambitions to be a camel herder!

Shoug & Sharouq brave the smelly Salem

Hessa and Hoori getting ready to take off

A view of Kuwait on our way back into port!

Little Rooster's Update

Here we are in April all ready, jebus where is the year going? I hear Easter is coming up, although must admit I have no idea when as Easter is a non event in a Muslim country...derr of course ha! Quite strange not seeing the supermarket full of chocolate eggs at this time of year though I must say. What is happening in Kuwait though? Well not a lot to be honest, just work and work and um some more work. Not much going on socially. People have been working or traveling or both. Today however I took my self off for a massage, first one in, good god, I just realised it's been over a year!!! Shocking! After 7 months of bouncing, flipping, turning and spinning around the gym my body was starting to feel worse than a 75km paddle. So thankfully the little Filipino lady that was my masseuse was actually pretty good and managed to get me sorted for the time being.

On the work front I have managed to accomplish two big things. 1. We reached out target of 400 members for this semester so a little bonus should be floating my way soon. 2. I found us a swimming instructor...hoo ray. So all of you who were thinking of coming to live with me in Kuwait well you missed the boat because Laurel is flying over at the end of the month. She is another Aussie and a friend of friends hahahaha I know sounds a bit shady but its all cool.

Other than that folks not much to report. We have the Anzac ball coming up a the end of the month. What is that? I hear you ask, well its basically a big piss up for all the Aussies and Kiwis living in Kuwait. Am very much looking forward to it as it will be a good chance to see if there is in fact any decent single men in this country. Ha not sure what my chances are but am shopping for a spanking new dress for the occasion tomorrow so it better be worth it!

Not long till I am back in OZ any ways, the 17th of June I will be touching down at Brisbane Airport in case you hadn't all ready heard. I think I arrive at 6.30am so all feel free to come to the airport and welcome me back hahaha. Will be home for a glorious 4 weeks and will try and see every one that is in the South East Queensland area and possibly the Melbourne folks....but only if your good and supply me with plenty of red wine ;)

So that's pretty much it for now my friends. Will take plenty of snaps at the ball so you can see the talent Kuwait has to offer but until then stay cool!

xox
ali