The tower trip

Beach on Kuwait Bay
Fisherman repairing net at Dhow Harbor
Me at the tower
Kuwait Towers


On Sunday the 8th a group of us went into the big city. We went to the Kuwait Towers. One of the guys had been there previously and in an attempt to be differient, I suggested that we have lunch in the tower restaurant. What a treat that was. It was a nice clear day and we were the first group to get served on the buffet line. The selection of entrees and side dishes was extensive and the desserts were great. We all enjoyed a great view and a great meal. After a relaxing couple of hours we continued our tour along Gulf Road and went past Sharq Souk Mall and then the Sief Palace. (I guess there is some royalty living there as it was a very large complex right on the Bay of Kuwait). After the palace was a dhow harbor for the fishermen in Kuwait City. I stopped to look at a fisherman working on his net. He didn't speak English, so with hand motions he explained how the fish swam to the net and got caught by their gills; and he enjoyed having his picture taken. Next was a stop at the Kuwait National Museum - but it was closed, so that is a destination for another time.

Has it really been 20 days?

Grilling on the roof
A camel close up
A little green - astro turf
A clean Suburban, fresh from the car wash

Well, more internet problems have slowed the entry to this blog, oh, and also I was a bit lazy, or otherwise occupied. Sorry to keep you avid readers waiting. We had some more people join us on the 15th. By now they have adjusted well to the locale and are very productive. I picked up a group from the airport and on the way back, I added to their tour of the area by making a wrong turn. Thankfully, I was able to get back on track quickly. Most of the last two-three weeks have been pretty routine - work, eat, sleep, work...etc. Last Sunday, I took a group of newcomers to Arifjan so they could get access to the military facilities. After the 5 hour task, I went into Kuwait City to The Avenues mall to get something from IKEA. I then went to the new Dean & Deluca and got something to eat. While there I saw I saw a 500 gram container of caviar for 2,375 KWD ($8170). I'll let you do the math to convert it to $/oz. Today I went into Fahaheel and had the Suburban washed - it was hard to tell it from the desert - and then get a haircut. The barber experience was very enjoyable - trim, shampoo, clipping odd hairs, about $11.00. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

9 days later, time marches on

Camels - enlarge to get better view



Fellow workers on an afternoon out at Al Manshar Mall Food Court. Notice the Texas Chicken(Church's) see the logo on the far lower right.



Public beach at Fahaheel



Marina at Al Kout mall, this view from deck at Starbucks.




Since the last post, it has rained a few more times, not much, but a little more than normal for the area. The weather has been pleasant and it is expected to reach 75 F this week.

The last of our group was finally cleared for access to the local military facilities. This gives us the opportunity to get some products that are not available locally and to eat at the local mess hall. The meals have been quite good and bring a bit of the US to the area. We are not going hungry! I was able to find a docking station for my ipod at the PX. I think it was quite a find - dual voltage, so I can use it when I return home, remote control and compact with an FM receiver built in for only $34. Now I can have music in my apartment without needing the earphones.

Last Monday, I took a cab to the business district in Fahaheel. It turned into a nice 4 hour visit. I started out at the Starbucks overlooking the marina. It was a little brisk, but sitting on the deck with a warm coffee and reading the newspaper with a nice view was enjoyable. After the coffee, I walked down the beach then over to the commercial side of the avenue. I stopped by a large department store then a bookstore where I found a guide to Kuwait then I made a stop at Tikka Chicken for supper. The "snack" was a brest/wing quarter and a leg/thigh quarter grilled, with rice and grilled vegetables and fried dough as the bread, a tasty meal. Next on to a bake shop "just looking" that had an extensive selection of cake, pastry and bread; the bank for a little walking around money and then to the grocery for a few needed supplies then back to the apartment via cab.

Well, for a little more recent action, I just came back from "The Avenues" mall. Yes, another mall, but this isn't just any mall, it is huge, 240 stores, 35 restaurants and plenty of variety and a wide price range. The mall is located off Fifth Ring Road and near road 60. We ate at a restaurant - Casper and Gambini's - there and had a very enjoyable meal, I had a #47,#68a and #116. There was a lot of looking and not much buying. I'll need to get pictures from another of the travelers for this trip, as I didn't take my camera. Maybe I'll show them on the next post.

Today it rained! Yes it is true.

Me at the Hilton Resort beach


Marina Crescent Mall, Kuwait City


Al Funar Mall, Kuwait City


Me with Britney and Shakira at Hard Rock
Cafe, Kuwait City


I didn't take any pictures of the rain to prove it, but we did have a pretty steady rain for most of the day. It started around 8 and stopped about 4. The dust factor went down considerably. Talk about fate, our manager had scheduled a cookout for this afternoon, but it was rained out! Maybe they will reschedule for Sunday or Monday. We are going to work Saturday and Sunday and be off on Monday in order to enjoy the Super Bowl. It will be on here at about 2 AM our Monday morning.

Most of the week has passed pretty slow. We are staying busy for the most part and worked a few short days. Yesterday, Thursday, a group of us went to Arif Jan Army base to get our temporary pass to enter the base and became entangled in red tape. We thought we had all the paperwork necessary and were greeted with a potential 8 hour wait if we could get in at all. After we got some of the other pass holders to "escort" us to the inside pass office, we found out they were not official escorts. After this, we went to get something to eat and then to the PX. I picked up a few items of junk food, bacon (this is a pork free state outside the base) and some frozen items. Very good pricing compared to The Sultan Center grocery for comparable brands.

The dollar is gaining strength against the Dinar, so I am getting a little more buying power. That is a nice little break. I have done a little better this week and haven't eaten out as much and therefore haven't spent as much Dinar as usual. That certainly helps a bit with the finances. Heck maybe I'll spend a little more next week as a celebration.

More tough times in the Mid East

Kuwait City skyline

Some of the gang at Hard Rock Cafe

Arabian Gulf Road, Kuwait City

Liberation Tower, Kuwait City

Al Manshar Hotel, Fahaheel, Kuwait, at night

"Up on the roof" of my apartment building


Another few days have passed without great incidence. The weather is pleasant, in the 60's and 70's for the day. Everyone says the heat starts around March and becomes miserable, so I'll gladly enjoy the mild Winter. I continue to have a very American Q80 culinary experience. Friday I ate at Ruby Tuesday's and had a great ribeye. Sunday I went to Chili's after a long day in Kuwait City going to the Harley-Davidson dealership, Al Funar mall and Marina Crescent mall. The meal was a very good chicken fajita quesadilla. The malls were very modern and first rate design. They put the local Charleston malls to shame. They had a very high class selection of stores. Needless to say, my budget did not allow for a 8,236 Dinar Rolex from Tiffany's or a 292 Dinar pair of Gucci slippers. I'll have to stick with the knock-offs. There are several places where counterfiet products are available. Purses, watches and clothing with expensive brand names, but not the real thing, are in several of the bazaar shops. I viewed a dvd that was obviously shot with a hand held camera in a movie theater. Several times I could see people get up in the theater and often the camera shook, also the view did not take in the full screen. I guess one cannot expect first quality when the product is fourth rate. Until next time........

Finally back to the blog

My living room


Inside the my work facility


Near the Fahaheel bazaar


Gulf Road, Fahaheel near Al Kout Mall

First off, I thank Howard for information to get me back to the posting screen. I had problems with the address. I have added a picture to my profile. It was taken in front of the Kuwaiti Fisherman's Association marina at Al Kout center in Fahaheel, which is about a mile from my apartment in Mangaf.

It is now 18 days into this adventure and so far it has been pretty good. We landed on a Sunday night and started to work on Monday morning around 8 AM The first few days were spent setting up and we got trucks to work on a few days later and had to work long hours to make up the production due to late deliveries of vehicles from the manufacturer. We are now on schedule and will be awaiting more vehicles by Saturday the 24th.

We have had a chance to drive around the area for a few hours and the traffic is hectic, the roads are modern and there is a lack of stop signs in small neighborhoods, but an abundance of speed bumps. This is a very advanced country in many respects, but much of the culture and heritage is still intact. Our eating habits have not been changed by our location. There is an abundance of US branded fast food outlets - McDonald's, Hardees, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, Buffalo Wild Wings are the ones at which we have eaten. We typically shop at a modern supermarket with a good selection, so no going around hungry.

Last night after going to The Sultan Center supermarket, I and two others went to a local, non-chain restaurant! We went to Mario's, a Philippine cuisine place. I had fried Talapia, fried rice and vegetable spring rolls. Every thing was very tasty. The fish was nice and fresh and fried just right and the spring rolls were some of the best I've ever tasted - no bull. After a satisfying evening, I went home, made sandwiches for Thursday's lunch and went to bed.

With any luck, I will post a little more regularly and have more pictures. I will try at least once a week.

More stuff, not enough room

I am checking my list and packing my bags; loading music to the computer to transfer to ipod; cleaning the kitchen; washing clothes. I have run out of room for the things I want to take to Kuwait. I don't want to buy anything there that I already have and can take. I need to be very selective now. I'll go to the bank tomorrow and get some cash for the trip. A big list of things to do tomorrow (Friday). I will winterize my house and try to leave by 3 PM. I leave Charleston at 7 PM Saturday. I'll spend Friday night in a hotel. I'll probably forget something!