Old Kuwaiti buildings - Masjids

A couple of the old masjids in Kuwait City.

1893

1912

The old buildings were so beautiful and life back then was so simple.

Old Kuwaiti buildings near Kuwait City

These buildings have been renovated and they are some the of the few remaining original buildings left in Kuwait.

1912

1934

 I wish there was a whole town kept as a heritage village instead of being torn down and made into a high rise.

Old house Kuwait

This one is beside Marina Mall. 

 

I wonder what the area looked like when this was built.

Kuwait- the early Days

Although it's in Arabic I like to see video of the early days, before skyscrapers and modernization. Sometimes it's hard to imagine what Kuwait was like before since the government hasn't saved too many of the old buildings but thankfully some footage was taken so people who are into history can catch a glimpse.

Youm Al Bahar- The sailor's day heritage Village- Hand made Dhows and other Shops

It's always nice to see handicrafts being made in front of your eyes. This shops has hand made dhows with the Kuwaiti guy making them as you watch. I hope everyone takes a visit to the village and support the few remaining artisans. It would be great if there were programs teaching classes on how to make these items. The art will be lost if the new generations are not taught customs and life in the old days. Sadu house has a class for weaving Sadu rugs that might be something I will check on in the future.

 This shop has all kinds of things from the early days of Kuwait unfortunately it was closed at that time which means I will have to visit again when it gets cooler.

The old Kuwaiti type coffee shop.

I really don't know what shops are open daily, they close up for prayer times and the museum that's there is closed and opens when the owner feels like it.

Youm Al Bahar- The sailor's day heritage Village- Pictures and hand made wooden storage Chests







The next shop was full of colorful pictures and hand made wooden chests with colorful painted scenes on them, they are known as "sundooq mobayat" in Kuwaiti dialect.

Great place to go if your looking for desert scenes to decorate your house.

Old house in Mangaf

I spotted this old house as I was driving through Mangaf and had to stop to take pictures before it gets torn down. I wish they would make every one of these old houses a little musuem where it stands. They could just refurbish is so it is steady and build a gate around it, kind of like the old doors that were once part of the wall built around Kuwait.

Time is running out and modernization is taking over, erasing history.

Ahmadi Kuwait- will remind you of the States

I will start a new job soon Inshallah so I set out to Ahmadi to check out the area. I love the streets and greenery, it makes you think for a split second that you are driving back in the states. Some of the houses are in better shape than others but I would live there if they gave me a chance as long as they have fixed the gas leaks that caused an evacuation back in 2010.

 

The foundation of Al-Ahmadi city coincided with the discovery of oil in the State of Kuwait.

 

Plans for its construction began in 1940 and it was completed in 1949 near Al-Ahmadi oil terminal. It was constructed to provide housing and various amenities for the people working in the oil terminal. The city was named after the late Sheikh Ahmad Al Jabar, the ruler of Kuwait from 1921-1950 during whose reign oil was discovered in Kuwait. It is the first western-style city in Kuwait, built to accommodate the multinational employees of Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

 

By 1952 there were 1,000 houses in Al Ahmadi. The city was divided into 3 zones; the northern section for directors, the central section for senior staff and the southern section for junior employees. Al Ahmadi city offers sport and recreational facilities, foremost among which is the stadium which holds 15,000 spectators.The city is noted for its villas surrounded by gardens. This abundant green garden has helped to alleviate high temperature, especially when sand storms blow.

 

Al Ahmadi today:

 The old Ahmadi golf club, the golf course is now sand but I can just imagine what it looked like when it first opened.

 Ladies salon

 A row of brand new houses which probably belong to someone high up in the oil sector or someone who has a lot of money and wasta, but from what I could see they are beautiful.

These new houses give Ahmadi a fresh updated look without losing the charm of the area.