Bedouin Life
by mikey_e
Unlike the general perception of Gulf countries, the actual number of nomadic bedouins in Kuwait is quite low, and the general population is characterized by a tendency towards a highly urban lifestyle. Nevertheless, there are efforts to preserve traditional bedouin culture and the government does sponsor and promote certain events and institutions designed to ensure that future generations are educated on the country's traditional culture. If you go to any official public functions, especially ones aimed at celebrations for the whole family, it is highly likely that there will be some sort of bedouin element to the festivities. At a one event I visited (for diplomats and their families), visitors were treated to coffee and tea inside a traditional bedouin tent. The facilities are obviously those that would be enjoyed by the wealthiest of bedouin families, but they do give you an idea of what it was like to live inside a tent. Remember to always take off your shoes before entering any Muslim house - include a tent!
Fascinating! - blue and white striped water towers
by angiebabe
Id seen these depicted on the rough maps Id been given by the hotel around the roads of Kuwait and on my travels - ie from the Crown Plaza Hotel/Fuwiniya into Kuwait City and from Hotel Continental in the direction of Jahra with my taxi driver I got to see these quite well when driving past along on the freeways - even if driving quite fast Im glad the photos have come out!
They are rather distinctive and I thinkjrather pretty - but Im rather biased to things blue!
You can also see in the photos the homes in those areas being supplied the water much needed in such a dry and sandy country - a lot of oil which makes very cheap petrol but water is the highly sought commodity in addition! - which I was so impressed by the so many beautiful designs of these homes out in these new suburbs - and their size which I was told does house a family, maybe incorporating some degree of extended ones but usually a lot of room to go around!
Mubarakiya Mosque
by mikey_e
Kuwait has a law about how many mosques there must be in a square km, or within so many inhabitants, which can lead to a density of religious institutions not known in many Western countries. The effect is also one of highly diversified mosques, as builders seek to provide some sort of variety and diversity in the urban planning of the capital. This particular mosque is at the edge of the Mubarakiya market and its muezzin can be heard throughout the restaurants that border the market. The structure itself is interesting as well, particularly because of the oddly-shaped dome, which is almost cylindrical at its lower edges. I'm not sure if this is a traditional style of some part of the peninsula, or it is the idea of an avant-garde Islamic architect, but it helps to keep your attention when passing by. The lack of a Hussainiya here likely means that this is a Sunni mosque.
Mesjid Abu Hariri
by mikey_e
This mosque easily wins the competition for oddest location of a place of worship. It is located in the parking lot of the Cartoon Network World building and does not appear to service any other population other than those who work in the building. That's a shame, because it is a actually a fairly pretty mosque that you would not expect to be in such a non-residential area. Its Turkish-style minaret and blue dome would imply that it is perhaps influenced by a non-Arab community, but it's not all that clear. Nevertheless, this is an interesting structure to contemplate even for a bit, as it is so out of place in its surroundings. Apart from that, it doesn't really have any particular features (such as patterns or tiling) that make it unique.
A taste of Everest
by mikey_e about Solti Nepali Restaurant
I must admit that, despite having seen several Nepali restaurants in Toronto and been fairly curious about the cuisine, I had never before eaten at a Nepali restaurant. So, when seeing one in Kuwait, I decided to try my luck and was pleasantly surprised. Nepali food shows influences of both Chinese and Indian cuisine, with the obvious adjustments for a country that is landlocked and mountainous (i.e. no fish and heavier on meat and starches rather than vegetables). This is a restaurant geared towards Nepali migrant workers, so do not expect to find exquisite ambiance or impeccable service. Still, I rather enjoyed the experience, as it reminded me of the Chinese dumpling houses in Toronto. The food is fresh, but service can be rather slow if the restaurant is busy (they have one waiter and one cook). Spicy really does mean spicy, so don't order something hot unless you know that you can handle it. Unfortunately, I don't remember the names of the dishes that I tried. However, the chicken chili (that may have been the actual name) was nothing that I would recommend. In addition to being excessively spicy, it was mainly noodles with some dark meat. Far preferable was the dish that was similar to a curry pho, with chicken and noodles in a thick, spicy curry sauce.
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Liberation Tower
for $1.25 US, you can't beat this !!!!!
Skyscraper in the desert
Liberation Monument
