Monday, January 30, 2012

Elections in Kuwait- What's for Dinner?

Election times in Kuwait bring out the special menus as you can see from the pictures below. In this area having camels to eat is a sign of wealth. I usually see baby camels in pens when someone is getting married. Now that the elections are in full swing the rich people bring out the most expensive items to serve voters. I've tried camel milk but could never bring myself to eat a camel.
Camel, it's what's for dinner...........

Friday, January 27, 2012

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Three girls in ‘fun’ mode caught naked under ‘Abaya’

Three girls in ‘fun’ mode caught naked under ‘Abaya’:

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 22:

Police have arrested three girls — a Kuwaiti and two GCC nationals, one of whom is a minor — for wearing no clothes except abayas (the black all covering garment worn by women) at a café in a commercial complex in Salmiya, reports Al-Rai daily.

A small boy reportedly told his mother that he saw a naked girl in the café and the mother then noticed the three girls and called the Operations Department of the Interior Ministry. The three girls told police that they had consensual sex in an apartment, consumed alcohol and got drunk. The girls added that when they regained their consciousness, they came to the café to have coffee.

Police made a phone call to the father of the two GCC girls, but he said he could not come to Kuwait as he was busy. The girls were referred to the Criminal Investigations Department.

Parents need to take care of raising their children with values instead of having the maids raise them. The youth of today are out of control! One has to remember they will be the future leaders of Kuwait.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Al Sadu house male doll Workshop

I wish I had the patience to go for round two of doll making and have a male doll to go with my female. I would gladly pay money for it instead. For those who have the patience and sewing skills it's really a nice experience.


Sadu house is a beautiful place to have this workshop, they also provided us with tea/coffee and cookies.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Esther's Attic - A Success!

Thanks goes out to those who braved the cold and wind to come to the grand opening. It was great and lots of things were sold! For those who missed it, Esther's Attic will be open Saturdays from 10-1 pm. Mark it on your calender!




We will put out new items during the week so keep visiting, you never know what deal you will find!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Kuwait Festival 2012





WhenFriday, January 27, 2012 at 1:00pm until Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 4:00pmDescriptionWorld in Heart of Kuwait Festival 2012

www.galbq8.com

The biggest festival of 2012 in Kuwait. Participating more then 12 Countries and 500 Companies from inside and outside of Kuwait.
...
You can enjoy:
1: A great opening ceremony with Fireworks, Laser and Light shows.
2: Different performances by youth.
3: Contest and exhibitions for photography, drawing and painting..etc
4: Different Sports.
5: Cars and Motorbikes Show..... wao
6: Hosting a Fashion Show for the Summer 2012.
7: Fire Dancers.
and many many more excited activities...........
Booths are available for participation.

*** For more info plz contact on:
Phone: 00965-24814431
Fax: 00965-24830028
4th Floor, Alraas Tower.
Salmiya, Gulf street, Kuwait.
http://www.galbq8.com/

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Esther's Attic in Arab Times today!!

Please click on the link, on page 29 you will see the article for Hope House/ Esther's Attic


http://issuu.com/arabtimes/docs/18jan2012

Only a few days left until our opening!

AWARE Center Activity

AWARE Center:

23 Jan 2012, 5:00 pm

Arabic Calligraphy represents unity, beauty and power. Join us for a tour of the Tariq Rajab Museum of Calligraphy to further explore the beauty and history expressed in this captivating art. The tour will be conducted in English. All are welcome. Cameras are encouraged. Seating is limited. Advance reservations are required. Departure from AWARE: at 5:00pm Return Departure: 7:00pm Tour Fee: 4KD per person.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Car crash involving our Guys

A couple of weeks ago one our FN buses was involved in a really bad accident. As told to me by one of my co-workers the Kuwaiti guy in the GMC was going 200+ km and came up on his car in the fast lane, the Kuwaiti guy went to the right, clipped another SUV and crashed into the back of the bus. The bus driver tried to gain control until he hit the curb and the bus fell on it's side injuring 30 workers.

The Kuwaiti guy died instantly, several people tried to put out the flames but the car suddenly blew up. The guy's body was later removed in two pieces, half from the front seat and the other half from the backseat. I read about a similar accident in Arab Times but it said the guy was Asian. Maybe a different accident on the 30?











Slow down people!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Snow in Kuwait! Well sort of....

Snow in Kuwait! Ok, hail in Kuwait, both are frozen water. It seems only the desert areas got this massive hail storm. I haven't read about it in any papers so not many people must know about it. The last time I was in a hail storm was 2008 and I had to find a tree to park under until the hail stopped.

Some pics outside the office.







I have a video, try to post it later...

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Esther's Attic Grand Opening!!!!

It's finally time! The grand opening of Esther's Attic re-sale shop. Esther's Attic proceeds will go toward helping the needy through Operation Hope. We appreciate the hard work from our volunteers and an idea has now become reality! We hope you will join us for our grand opening in January 21, 2012 from 10 am -1 pm, Rumathiya, block 9, st 92 house 23. Send an email for more info!








We are still in need of hangers of all types especially pants and kids clothing hangers as well as racks for hanging clothing. If you have any used items and would like to donate them bring them along when you visit! Inshallah we will see you there!

Friday, January 13, 2012

AWARE Center Grand Mosque Tour

AWARE Center:

14 Jan 2012, 9:30 am

For a rewarding, spiritual and informative experience. This is a 1 ½ tour of one of Kuwait’s most famous landmarks. Ladies are required to cover - long sleeves and long ankle length skirt, otherwise the mosque will provide a cloak. If you have your own scarf you’re welcome to bring it. Camera’s allowed. Children welcome. This tour meets directly at the Grand Mosque at 9.15am.

Directions to the Grand Mosque. Take Gulf Street towards the Kuwait Towers. Pass the Towers with them on your right. Pass Souq Sharq with it on your right. Pass the Dickson House and Ministry of Planning with them on your left. By Seif Palace there is a large roundabout. Take the 2nd exit off the roundabout.
The Grand Mosque is now on your left. At traffic lights turn left. Grand Mosque is on your left. To park go down to the roundabout and come back so Grand Mosque is on your right. Car Parking - If you are driving you can park at the mosque. The entrance is found by taking the side road between the Al-Babtain library and the Grand Mosque. Then you will see a barrier on your left. Tell the guard you are there for a tour and he will let you in, you follow the road round and can park in front of the mosque.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Wood as precious as Gold

Saudi Gazette - Wood as precious as gold:

Wood of Oud has been a part of Arabic culture for thousands of years. As rare and as precious as gold, it has a great cultural significance in ancient civilizations around the world. A common house in Gulf countries may lack a very important piece of furniture, but it is hard to imagine a home without Oud. Its smoke is thought to have the power that bonds an Arab to his roots and origins.
Oud is dark resinous wood that is also valued in many other cultures for its distinctive fragrance, and thus is used for incense and perfumes. It forms in Aquilaria and Gyrinops trees and the finest types of Oud come from the high mountainous areas of India, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
An interesting aspect related to formation of Oud is that it forms when a tree becomes infected with a type of mold. Prior to infection, the heartwood is relatively light and pale colored; however, as the infection progresses, the tree produces a very dense, dark, resin embedded heartwood in response to the attack. The infected trees are left for a period of 60 years to up to more than a century before good quality Oud can be extracted from them.

My apartment building is Ghetto

Most of the apartment buildings I've lived in have been decent. But this building I've been in since I came back from the states is slowly turning into the projects. Majority of apartment buildings don't allow just anyone to move in they set standards. Some people might not like it but it's Kuwait and most people do what they want.

Not the case for my building. I think they allow any and everyone to move in. I moved into the building a couple years ago when it was brand new and the people living there at the time were decent. Had to move out, then moved back in recently. Now it's filled with some ghetto people. Directly under my apartment is a Kuwaiti family who allow the 6 kids to do whatever they want with no control. One time I was bringing groceries home and a can of soda fell out of the box and by the time I turned around to get it the Kuwaiti kid took it and ran off.

Another time I was pulling into the parking and the same family of kids were sitting on the cars and when I got out they yelled at me and when I said something back they cussed me. They are like a little gang of thugs and they will cuss any adult who talks to them.

Last night I was rudely awaken by the sounds of kids screaming around 11 pm. I open my window and it's the ghetto kids downstairs screaming and talking to the kids on the balcony beside my window. Yelling at them to quiet down did nothing. I had to go down to the haris and complain. WTH? Why do some Kuwaiti families not control their kids? My sister saw their baby brother playing on the balcony and he almost fell. Mind you it's not really a balcony, it's just an edge that's about a foot wide with a metal gate around it.

Most people store their crap there but the kids beside my window stand outside and yell from it. They also don't realize that even though the windows are tinted, at night people can see everyone in the apartment. Young girls dancing and playing around. It seems as if there is no man in the house because they act like animals. Do they not go to school? Why are 6 year old kids yelling at midnight?

I think I'm going to buy floodlights and put them outside my window or buy a stereo system with huge speakers and blast System of a Down or Rob Zombie. Maybe that will shut them up. We live in the Mahboula/Abu Halaifa area which explains why the people in my building are ghetto.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Ties Arabic Classes

Interested in learning Arabic? Kuwaiti dialect?

Kuwaiti dialect - 10 KD- Wednesdays- 10 am-12pm- 18/1/12-22/2/12
Level 1- 10 KD- Thursdays- 6-8 pm- 19/1/12-23/2/12
Level 2- 10 KD- Sun-Tues- 6:30pm-8 pm- 15/1/12-21/2/12
Level 3- 10 KD- Mom-Wed- 6:30 pm- 8pm- 18/1/12-22/2/12
Kuwait dialect- 10 KD- Wednesdays- 6 pm-8 pm- 18/1/12-22/2/12
Level 4- 10 KD- Mon-Wed- 6:30 pm-8 pm- 16/1/12-22/2/12

Read, write and speak Arabic.....

For more info call: 25231015/25231016 or 97228860/97793440

Sunday, January 8, 2012

AWARE Center Activity

AWARE Center:

09 Jan 2012, 6:00 pm

The Jalusion Center offers a variety of workshops related to world heritage hand crafts and fashion design. The center is set in a beautiful traditional Moroccan style complex. This tour offers a short presentation followed by a tour of the building and its wonderful Moroccan artifacts. Moroccan tea and handmade sweets will be served. World heritage hand crafts will be available for purchase and discounts on Jalusion Art Craft courses will be offered.

Registration is required. For further details, contact info@aware.com.kw Date: Monday, January 9, 2012 Departure from AWARE: 6:00pm Return to AWARE: 8:00pm Fee: KD2

Friday, January 6, 2012

Operation Hope donations

I wanted to share with viewers some pictures of donations we submit. The boxes are full of bags of toiletries heading to the women in the Philippine embassy shelter. We get donations from schools, individuals and groups. We couldn't do it without them.





Pictures of clothing donations also going to the Phillipine embassy in the wake of the terrible flooding.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Banta Furniture Store

Looking for cheap furniture? Banta is a decent place with inexpensive furniture and household items. Ok, the items may be from China but you have to look through everything and you will find a bargain. I bought some lamps, carpets and decorations for a decent price. It's located in Farwaniya behind the Ministry building.










Check it out!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Flamingos in Kuwait

Yes, there are flamingos in Kuwait outside of the zoo. These flamingos are located on protected land beside the Sabah maternity hospital which is where I go to the baby ward and take the mothers donations. I couldn't get close enough for better pictures and only had my phone to take pictures with. But they are beautiful none the less.








I hope the poachers stay away from them.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

AWARE Center Events- Bedouin tents and desert Customs

January 3, 2012 @ 7:00 pm.

AWARE Center: By Maziad Al-Khaldi

Modern day Kuwaitis are the descendants of several nomadic tribes and clans who ultimately settled on the coast of the Arabian Gulf during the eighteenth century to avoid the persistent drought of the desert. When they arrived at the coast, the clans built forts to protect themselves from other nomadic tribes who still traversed the desert. Society in Kuwait in known for strong ties between its members. Families, neighbors, and friends maintain close relationships, and everyone is ready to share and celebrate special occasions with others. Until now, ethnic Kuwaitis are still struggling to maintain their cultural heritage in an increasingly complex society. One of the aspects in which they strive to maintain their culture is living in tents in Winter. Do you know how many types of tents exist? What is the different between tents of today and those of the past? In his 25-minute presentation, Maziad will answer all these questions and many more. He will also share a Bedouin recipe on the screen. All those interested are welcome on January 3rd, 2012 at 7:00pm.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! New things to come!

A few things still concern me though.

1. Will the Mayan prediction of the world ending on 12-21-2012 happen?

2. Will the Shia Muslims in Iraq kill off the Sunni Muslims now that the U.S. troops have left? Will Iraq turn into a mini Iran?

3. Will this mini Iran or Iran itself attack Kuwait?

Always good to have an escape plan in place. Right?