System? What System? Is basically the motto in Kuwait. Have spent the past week in total disarray with being fed misinformation about my working visa for Kuwait. I have never in my life encountered such total lack of communication and organisation and all I could do was be moved from pillar to post. Let me explain....No to long, let me summarize....
On the first of January we are told that a new law has come into place which forces people wishing to obtain a permanent visa must go back to their country of origin to get the stamp in their pass port. So my boss was in a flurry as sending me back to oz would prove rather expensive and I would be out of action for a week so she bitched and fought her way with every body in government that she could. But no one was willing to help or tell us why I had to go home all they said was to bad she has to go back to Australia. So the next plan was to get her brother a general in the Kuwait to throw his weight around. However just as he was about to try the Emir died (King of Kuwait) so all government departments shutdown and so everyone decides that yes I do need to go so mad rush now to find flights and have everything arranged which of course I do my self, find cheap flights on the net and have everything sorted. I have the go ahead that this is the plan and that I will leave Saturday. Of course I now start to get a little excited at the prospect of seeing Mum and spending some time in a "normal" country. However....This is Kuwait nothing goes to plan!
Saturday morning I am due to fly out that night they get word that there has been no law change just that some nob head in the ministry started telling everyone this after Bahrain said they will nolonger accept people coming over to get their visas! So now my boss decides that even though I have everything booked for Australia I will now just go to Dubai. Grrrrrrrr
She of course is given the personal guarantee from the top immigration minister that all I need to do is rock up to the embassy in Kuwait get them to sign a form to say yes I do exist and stamp my passport...But this is Kuwait so do you think that happens?
Arrive Monday night in Dubai am told they have booked me a hotel in Sharjah an emirate just out of Dubai of course this emirate also does not allow the sale of alcohol...Just my luck so I buy a bottle of real red wine, whooo hoooo, from the airport and get a cab out to the hotel. Of course I arrive and there is no bottle opener at the hotel, ask for one but denied as they bloody hotel doesn't have one. Therefore I had to resort to the old push the cork in the bottle trick which resulted in red wine spurting every where....Talk about desperate. How sad! Finally get some wine in to me and think ahhh all is well now.....NO! Bottle openers prove to be the least of my problems instead I fight with stupid ass taxi drivers who don't know where anything is, am told by the embassy that the top immigration guys guarantee is nothing and I need to get a medical and an xray blah blah blah.
Therefore spent the rest of my time running around Dubai getting all this sorted out. Finally can relax at the Irish Village which is a glorious oasis. A normal looking pub selling real beer and wine ahhhh spent the arvo there drinking booze and eating ham was in heaven. Of course the next day the fiasco begins again with me then being told I need passport photos before they will finish anything run around like a mad woman again. I tell you will someone please educate those taxi drivers in Dubai. I asked one guy to take me to the Kuwait Embassy and was told "but your in Dubai" I am like I know I am in Dubai I want to go to the Kuwait Em..ba..ssy. Jebus! Frustration levels were pretty high at this stage and tolerance levels pretty bloody low!
Finally the dude at the embassy stamps my passport and says please come back and visit us again soon. Ahhh no I don't think so!
Escaped Dubai on a plane that was of course delayed so now I think I have my visa to work in Kuwait, I think, but I am not sure as who knows what story I will be told next. I would like to go back to Dubai again one day to enjoy it for the party town it is known to be but since I was so up to 90 I didn't really get a good chance. My first impression though was that it was clean but everywhere seems clean compared to hear. My second was all the construction. It's kind of spread out a lot so will just have to go back and explore again sometime.
But for now shall continue with life in Kuwait with all the frustrations it brings. If anything this experience shall make me a stronger person and will never again complain about how things are done in Australia, we are so organised let me tell you. Till next time......
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Sunday, January 15, 2006
The Indians The Goat and Me!
Ok this story I am about to tell you does involve cruelty to animals and some rather graphic pictures so if your not really into seeing a goat being slaughtered well then I don't mind if you don't look at this posting! However now your probably wondering how in gods name I end up with pictures of a slaughtered goat so let me just tell you the story.
Right so last week was the second Eid and with that I scored a two day holiday during the week which is something defiantly to whoo hoo about. Any way so Javier an American friend of mine had just come back to Kuwait after a 2 week stint at home so we decided to catch up and go to the Indian restaurant round the corner from my house. I have actually gotten to know the dudes that run the place as well. I go there at least once a week for chabati which is a really yummy Indian bread not many western women walk into a place like that so I kinda get looked after and when they found out I was Australian they started telling me how fab our cricket team is and have been welcomed there ever since. The restaurant by the way is called Moon Resto Restaurant which I find kinda funny!
Any hoos so Javier and I go there for lunch and out the front is this massive goat. It is a Muslim tradition to slaughter a goat during Eid. I was later told the reason why is because one of their prophets was going to slaughter his son but in the end slaughtered a goat which I say was a pretty good decision especially for the son! So now at Eid Muslims sacrifice a goat and give some of the meat to the poor. There is a particular place you are supposed to cut it and traditional way to how you skin it. But I am not sure if its real protocol to do it in the middle of the street like these guys were planning!!!
There we are having a lovely lunch with a farm animal just hanging around at the front door when Javier asked the dude who runs the place if they were going to slaughter the animal here. He said yup in about an hour. So we politely asked them to wait for us to scoot home a grab the camera. Which they did cos they are just cool guys! So we get back with camera at the ready. I couldn't really get in there and take the photos so I let Javier have the honors as I was often covering my eyes! It was actually a pretty interesting experience just to see it happen however have decided to maybe take up vegetarianism since. But at least I kinda got to get involved in a little bit of the culture here and once again reconfirmed how good it is to have sanitized butchers at home!
The Indian dudes, me and the goat! Notice how we are out the front of a bridal shop hahaha you certainly wouldn't see this at home!
The Indian Dudes, Javier and the Goat! 
The end result! Oh poor billy goat!
Right so last week was the second Eid and with that I scored a two day holiday during the week which is something defiantly to whoo hoo about. Any way so Javier an American friend of mine had just come back to Kuwait after a 2 week stint at home so we decided to catch up and go to the Indian restaurant round the corner from my house. I have actually gotten to know the dudes that run the place as well. I go there at least once a week for chabati which is a really yummy Indian bread not many western women walk into a place like that so I kinda get looked after and when they found out I was Australian they started telling me how fab our cricket team is and have been welcomed there ever since. The restaurant by the way is called Moon Resto Restaurant which I find kinda funny!
Any hoos so Javier and I go there for lunch and out the front is this massive goat. It is a Muslim tradition to slaughter a goat during Eid. I was later told the reason why is because one of their prophets was going to slaughter his son but in the end slaughtered a goat which I say was a pretty good decision especially for the son! So now at Eid Muslims sacrifice a goat and give some of the meat to the poor. There is a particular place you are supposed to cut it and traditional way to how you skin it. But I am not sure if its real protocol to do it in the middle of the street like these guys were planning!!!
There we are having a lovely lunch with a farm animal just hanging around at the front door when Javier asked the dude who runs the place if they were going to slaughter the animal here. He said yup in about an hour. So we politely asked them to wait for us to scoot home a grab the camera. Which they did cos they are just cool guys! So we get back with camera at the ready. I couldn't really get in there and take the photos so I let Javier have the honors as I was often covering my eyes! It was actually a pretty interesting experience just to see it happen however have decided to maybe take up vegetarianism since. But at least I kinda got to get involved in a little bit of the culture here and once again reconfirmed how good it is to have sanitized butchers at home!
The Indian dudes, me and the goat! Notice how we are out the front of a bridal shop hahaha you certainly wouldn't see this at home!
The Indian Dudes, Javier and the Goat! 
All the Indian dudes holding the goat down ready to cut his throat. This came after they all yelled at each other for about 5 minutes first. I don't know what they were saying but I can imagine it was some thing like: "you grab his leg, no not that leg you moron the other leg."
Poor Billy's throat cut. :( what was funny was that they guy with the apron on just did the holding while the guy in the business shirt did the cutting. He ended up with blood on his nice shirt. I'm sure his wife had a thing or two to say about that!
Ok now they start to skin him. Of course out on the foot path in the middle of the street!!!!
They covered his head with a garbage bag then proceeded to finish skinning him.
Like the safety footwear?
The skinning brought on entertainment for the whole neighbourhood. The local kids came to check it out! At one point all the men were standing around the goat laughing them selves silly. I couldn't work out what was so funny when Javier pointed out that they just cut of his penis....ahh men are the same everywhere!
The end result! Oh poor billy goat!
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Photo Update!
Wade after your email of imagining me working in a building half falling down and sand blowing in my eyes I decided I should show you where I actually work! Its a nice new building equipped with excellent equipment. We even have a tennis/basketball court on the roof! 
My work mate Solange and next to her is her niece Stephanie. They are from the African country Cameroon. Lovely people and bloody funny! Solange speaks French, Cameroon and English so along with some Arabic from the locals I am also picking up a few other interesting words from her :) 
Solange's son Anthony. He is at the gym as much as we are so he gets to play on the equipment all day long and constantly keeps us entertained he is such a groovy kid!
Anthony about to attempt a straddle forward roll. This kid is only 1.5 and his skill level is amazing!! 
Anthony after his straddle forward roll! He's such a cutie :)
Me at work. Yes folks this is my job to do handstands! As you can see behind me this is our gym where we teach the kids to do cool things on the bars, beam and vault, not to mention the handstands. Am still working on the flips but when I master it I will be sure to send you photos :)
Upside down again, this time a handstand with out socks hahaha!
Me doing a handstand over the trap. You jump from the spring board up into a handstand then flip over to the other side! Has taken me a lot of practice but I've mastered it now, next is to do it with no hands!!
A perfect cartwheel from Solange! 
Some Indian dudes fishing! 
A lovely Kuwait sunset! See the black dot at the second umbrella? Well that's a group of three women in their lovely black get up. Covered from head to toe! Yes that's what I call essential beach wear! 
Celebrating the Christmas Cheer! Wayne, Ted, Paul Steve, Cobbs, Me and Vicky
More of the gang, this time with Sherry at the end of the table!
This is the famous Gulf Road, its a view from Sherry and Steve's balcony. Its actually a pretty quiet day here but usually this vantage point is great for witnessing the mad drivers of Kuwait!Sunday, January 01, 2006
Who Would Have Thought....
....That I would be in Kuwait at the start of 2006!! Certainly not I. Boy what an adventure 2005 was for me. I got started on this crazy traveling business and now here I am in a country that I would never have imagined I would visit let alone stay! I have survived 3 months here now and as 2006 gets underway I can let you all know that I will be staying on in madnessville. The madness must be rubbing off on me! But I had such a fantastic new years eve that well I am in good spirits and figure it aint that bad here after all.
New years was a fairly unplanned event I sent an SOS email to some friends on the Thursday as I was looking down the barrel of a new years eve of sitting at home drinking home made red wine and watching a Kylie Minoque concert on telly. Yes you can feel my desperation can't you? So after a few ums and ahs in the end Cobbs offered to invite us along to a party that he knew was happeing. So Sherry, Steve and I followed the worst map ever written to this party. Thankfully Steve's army training and problem solving skills managed to break the code that the map was written in and we found the place with out to much drama. So we rock up at this place where Cobbs was supposed to be however he was running late so we basically just gate crashed! But in the true ex pat spirit we were welcomed and asked straight away "So what are you drinking?" and was served a lovely beverage!
It was an Aussie guy who was having the party...obe I think his name was. It was mostly Aussies and Americans, however I did meet the first Irish people I have seen here and believe it or not she was from cork! Small world. Most of the people I have meet here have been here for yonks which just amazes me! Most people at the party had been in Kuwait from 3-7 years! I am like yeah I've been here 3 months I must seem so naive and green to them all!! So the party was going quite well, a guy in a sheik turned up (traditional Muslim dress) which Sherry and I just thought hilarious, what happened to the evils of drink??? He perched him self at the bar drank his rum and coke and played with his pray beads at the same time...Hello??? If your going to drink at least take off ya bloody religious dress!! Of course it wouldn't be a party either with out one guy wanting to beat up another guy over some chick. So when that happened it kinda ended the party as everyone went out into the car park to watch the fight hahaha. Every one just piled out of the room and left Sherry Steve and I there was so funny, we owned the party in the end and I celebrated by doing very bad druken cartwheels across the room!
So I brought the New year in with plenty of style! I hope every one else had a splendid one as well. We have a two day break coming up this week with the second Eid (a religious holiday) I think its a great idea why can't we have second christmases? Any ways I won't be going any where as I am still waiting on my visa to be sorted although I have been promised it will be done by Feb so I am planning trip to Jordan then. But till that time I shall continue with the same old work routine here in Kuwait. Any hoos peoples I think that's enough rambling from this little rooster so shall leave you be! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
New years was a fairly unplanned event I sent an SOS email to some friends on the Thursday as I was looking down the barrel of a new years eve of sitting at home drinking home made red wine and watching a Kylie Minoque concert on telly. Yes you can feel my desperation can't you? So after a few ums and ahs in the end Cobbs offered to invite us along to a party that he knew was happeing. So Sherry, Steve and I followed the worst map ever written to this party. Thankfully Steve's army training and problem solving skills managed to break the code that the map was written in and we found the place with out to much drama. So we rock up at this place where Cobbs was supposed to be however he was running late so we basically just gate crashed! But in the true ex pat spirit we were welcomed and asked straight away "So what are you drinking?" and was served a lovely beverage!
It was an Aussie guy who was having the party...obe I think his name was. It was mostly Aussies and Americans, however I did meet the first Irish people I have seen here and believe it or not she was from cork! Small world. Most of the people I have meet here have been here for yonks which just amazes me! Most people at the party had been in Kuwait from 3-7 years! I am like yeah I've been here 3 months I must seem so naive and green to them all!! So the party was going quite well, a guy in a sheik turned up (traditional Muslim dress) which Sherry and I just thought hilarious, what happened to the evils of drink??? He perched him self at the bar drank his rum and coke and played with his pray beads at the same time...Hello??? If your going to drink at least take off ya bloody religious dress!! Of course it wouldn't be a party either with out one guy wanting to beat up another guy over some chick. So when that happened it kinda ended the party as everyone went out into the car park to watch the fight hahaha. Every one just piled out of the room and left Sherry Steve and I there was so funny, we owned the party in the end and I celebrated by doing very bad druken cartwheels across the room!
So I brought the New year in with plenty of style! I hope every one else had a splendid one as well. We have a two day break coming up this week with the second Eid (a religious holiday) I think its a great idea why can't we have second christmases? Any ways I won't be going any where as I am still waiting on my visa to be sorted although I have been promised it will be done by Feb so I am planning trip to Jordan then. But till that time I shall continue with the same old work routine here in Kuwait. Any hoos peoples I think that's enough rambling from this little rooster so shall leave you be! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Friday, December 23, 2005
HO HO HO I Found Christmas
Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you are all spending the festive season with plenty of cheer and laughter. I was a little sad leading up to the "Silly Season" thinking about everyone at home celebrating with their families having the usual arguments about what to do Christmas day! I also missed all the hype around Christmas its funny how those Christmas carols in the shops help you remember the words. I tried to sing a few carols to the kids this week only to realise I don't bloody remember any hahhahaha. I missed the build up to Christmas to, the Christmas drinks mainly :)....... However I have been pleasantly surprised this week as Christmas has found me here in Islam territory.
Firstly my Boss Khalada felt sorry for me that I won't be spending Christmas with my family and the fact that I helped her out of a tight spot by opting to work. She has invited me to spend some time with her family (who by the way are just fantastic) on Christmas day. Then my mates Sherry and Steve decided to throw a little chrissy bass at their place last night. So all the Aussies gathered around with their smuggled or home made alcohol and finally I found some Christmas cheer. Ted also opened his doors to us all on Christmas day to drop in and have a few beverages. So really I don't think Christmas in Kuwait is going to be as bad as I thought it would be. Was so lovely of Steve and Sherry to get everyone together so we could once again eat to much and drink to much...am suffering a little today, but hey thats what Christmas is all about righ?
Well I hope everyone else manages to have a fab Chrissy. And just a note you Irish and English mob what's this Crimbo business it's either Christmas, Chrissy or xmas hmmm I dunno you all need a good Aussie education hehehehhe! Any hoos please everyone have a glass for me and I will post up some Christmas photos for you soon.
Merry Christmas and I hope Santa finds you where ever you are!
Love Ali
Firstly my Boss Khalada felt sorry for me that I won't be spending Christmas with my family and the fact that I helped her out of a tight spot by opting to work. She has invited me to spend some time with her family (who by the way are just fantastic) on Christmas day. Then my mates Sherry and Steve decided to throw a little chrissy bass at their place last night. So all the Aussies gathered around with their smuggled or home made alcohol and finally I found some Christmas cheer. Ted also opened his doors to us all on Christmas day to drop in and have a few beverages. So really I don't think Christmas in Kuwait is going to be as bad as I thought it would be. Was so lovely of Steve and Sherry to get everyone together so we could once again eat to much and drink to much...am suffering a little today, but hey thats what Christmas is all about righ?
Well I hope everyone else manages to have a fab Chrissy. And just a note you Irish and English mob what's this Crimbo business it's either Christmas, Chrissy or xmas hmmm I dunno you all need a good Aussie education hehehehhe! Any hoos please everyone have a glass for me and I will post up some Christmas photos for you soon.
Merry Christmas and I hope Santa finds you where ever you are!
Love Ali
Monday, December 05, 2005
Drive Like a Mad Man!
I will admit I was warned quite a few times about driving in Kuwait. Before I got here, when I got here and just before I got my car. However nothing prepares you for the chaos that is the roads in Kuwait. I am sure many of you are thinking "Yeah right I am sure it's like everywhere else a few idiots that make life a drama." But no this is not the case it is not just a few idiots its the whole god dam population of Kuwait, even the driving instructors are seen to be doing the most ridiculous things on the road so no wonder!
I received my car last week after my boss decided that I was pretty familiar with the system here. I tell you nothing prepares you for the system here. Since I have been unleashed on these mad roads I have noticed a few things that might help explain the plain stupidity and the frustration of driving here.
Why not turn from whatever lane you like: Generally on most roads there is a lane you might turn from on to another road and there is a lane that takes you straight ahead. Sure the same arrow markings are used here however the general rule is turn when ever you feel like it. Cross three lanes of traffic if you like.
Speed limit? What Speed limit?: I think that line says it all, if you have a car that can go fast then drive fast! Doesn't matter if the speed limit is 45km or 100km you just add another 50 or so K's to that and go for your life, doesn't matter if someone in front of you is not doing that speed you just flash your high beams at them and honk your horn till they get the hell out of your way, even if they have to bump into another car to do so who cares its not your fault you just like to drive fast!
Fog Lights??? Hello there is no fog here!!: The amount of stupid annoying drivers I have encountered driving around town with their fog lights on is ridiculous. Hello people if there is ever any fog here it might be at 4am in the morning and lifts after 2 minutes and that might happen twice a year! No instead they drive around with these annoying bright little lights on so that when they are behind you you can't see a dam thing!
Just pure madness: Every city and town has its lappers the losers who hot up their excels and barinas and drive up and down a section of road with the most annoying doush doush music playing. Well of course we have them here however they don't have cheap cars hotted up these teenages drive around in mercs, BMW's, sports cars and the standard family car an expensive SUV. They drive up and down Gulf Road beeping their horns and just being dick heads. The other night for example I saw this group of cars driving down the road with an SUV in the middle of them all with a teenage guy hanging out the sunroof with his tea towel on his head dancing around like a dam noodle! So then the cars around them decided to hang a few guys out the window to compete with the dancing sun roof guy. I was driving behind them going what the hell is this a new craze? Driving Discos?!! Another time I was driving behind one SUV while in the other lane was another SUV the two guys drove side by side and had a conversation out their windows for say 10km down the road. Both driving at about 80k's an hour. And then don't even get me started on the cars with kids jumping from front to back seat and hanging out the windows with no one even encouraging them to put a seat belt on. Grrrrr
Sorry folks just needed to get all that off my chest! I was warned I know but let me tell you once your driving in it you just need to drive like a mad man to survive! Ahhhh but then this is Kuwait you wouldn't expect anything less than crazyness!
I received my car last week after my boss decided that I was pretty familiar with the system here. I tell you nothing prepares you for the system here. Since I have been unleashed on these mad roads I have noticed a few things that might help explain the plain stupidity and the frustration of driving here.
Why not turn from whatever lane you like: Generally on most roads there is a lane you might turn from on to another road and there is a lane that takes you straight ahead. Sure the same arrow markings are used here however the general rule is turn when ever you feel like it. Cross three lanes of traffic if you like.
Speed limit? What Speed limit?: I think that line says it all, if you have a car that can go fast then drive fast! Doesn't matter if the speed limit is 45km or 100km you just add another 50 or so K's to that and go for your life, doesn't matter if someone in front of you is not doing that speed you just flash your high beams at them and honk your horn till they get the hell out of your way, even if they have to bump into another car to do so who cares its not your fault you just like to drive fast!
Fog Lights??? Hello there is no fog here!!: The amount of stupid annoying drivers I have encountered driving around town with their fog lights on is ridiculous. Hello people if there is ever any fog here it might be at 4am in the morning and lifts after 2 minutes and that might happen twice a year! No instead they drive around with these annoying bright little lights on so that when they are behind you you can't see a dam thing!
Just pure madness: Every city and town has its lappers the losers who hot up their excels and barinas and drive up and down a section of road with the most annoying doush doush music playing. Well of course we have them here however they don't have cheap cars hotted up these teenages drive around in mercs, BMW's, sports cars and the standard family car an expensive SUV. They drive up and down Gulf Road beeping their horns and just being dick heads. The other night for example I saw this group of cars driving down the road with an SUV in the middle of them all with a teenage guy hanging out the sunroof with his tea towel on his head dancing around like a dam noodle! So then the cars around them decided to hang a few guys out the window to compete with the dancing sun roof guy. I was driving behind them going what the hell is this a new craze? Driving Discos?!! Another time I was driving behind one SUV while in the other lane was another SUV the two guys drove side by side and had a conversation out their windows for say 10km down the road. Both driving at about 80k's an hour. And then don't even get me started on the cars with kids jumping from front to back seat and hanging out the windows with no one even encouraging them to put a seat belt on. Grrrrr
Sorry folks just needed to get all that off my chest! I was warned I know but let me tell you once your driving in it you just need to drive like a mad man to survive! Ahhhh but then this is Kuwait you wouldn't expect anything less than crazyness!
Monday, November 28, 2005
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! Thursday, November 17, 2005
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.
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
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
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!
Saturday, November 05, 2005
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!
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