25 random things about Kuwait...
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2/19/2009 11:52 pm |
[care to share] =============== What do you know about Kuwait? Did you realize that 'Mahboula' means 'insane woman' in Arabic or that the country once exterminated all alley cats but was overrun by rats so it allowed the alley cats to roam freely once again? Did you know Kuwait's ring road system was designed by British engineers or that citizens will often establish public water fountains as memorials for dead loved ones? A new fad - 25 random things about you - is sweeping the online world. Essentially it works like this: You write 25 random things about yourself and then send the list to 25 people and they will do the same. The point is to let your friends know more about you. I'm not big on self disclosure so I thought it might be fun to compile a list of 25 random things about Kuwait. Some are snarky, some are real and some you find out only by living here. [by Jamie Etheridge]  
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2/19/2009 11:54 pm |
1. The Second Ring Road is also known as Shara3 Al-Hubb (Street of Love).
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2/19/2009 11:55 pm |
2. The Kuwaiti dinar is the highest valued currency in the world.
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2/19/2009 11:56 pm |
3. Every expat that comes to Kuwait may not speak Arabic but they will all learn the meaning of the word 'wasta.'
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2/19/2009 11:57 pm |
4. Kuwait used the Gulf or Indian rupee as its official currency until 1961.
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2/19/2009 11:57 pm |
5. At its peak, the Souq Al-Manakh's market capitalization was the third highest in the world, behind only the US and Japan. 'Al-Manakh' means camel in Arabic. The souq was located in a parking garage once used for camel trading.
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2/19/2009 11:58 pm |
6. Kuwait has the freest press in the Arab world, ranking 61 on the Reporters without Borders 2008 press freedom index, six places above Lebanon.
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2/19/2009 11:59 pm |
7. Kuwait has the world's fifth largest proven oil reserves and is the third richest country in the world per capita.
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2/19/2009 11:59 pm |
8. Only 29 of the 440 animals in the Kuwait Zoo survived the Iraqi invasion.
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2/20/2009 12:00 am |
9. Compared with other places, Kuwait has no smell.
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2/20/2009 12:01 am |
10. Women's hair salons are known as 'saloons' even though alcohol is illegal.
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2/20/2009 12:02 am |
11. Alexander the Great named Failaka Island 'Icarus,' allegedly due to its heat and proximity to the sun.
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2/20/2009 12:03 am |
12. Some aspect of Kuwait's visa laws change, on average, every two weeks.
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2/20/2009 12:04 am |
13. The country's first church was built in Ahmadi in 1952.
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2/20/2009 12:05 am |
14. Kuwait has the largest kite in the world, measuring 25.47 meters by 40 meters, flown by Abdul Rahman and Faris Al-Farsi.
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2/20/2009 12:06 am |
15. The English School Fahaheel is Kuwait's oldest English school.
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2/20/2009 12:07 am |
16. The word Kuwait is the diminutive of the Arabic word 'Al-Kut,' which means fortress near water.
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2/20/2009 12:07 am |
17. Hawally has the worst traffic but the best curbside restaurants.
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2/20/2009 12:08 am |
18. Kuwait has nine islands: Auhha, Bubiyan, Failaka, Kubbar, Miskan, Umm Al-Maraadim, Umm Al-Naml, Garuh and Warba.
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2/20/2009 12:09 am |
19. Taxi drivers will charge a local or Asian expat KD 1 to KD 1.5 but Westerners will pay KD 2.5 or more.
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2/20/2009 12:10 am |
20. Kuwait Times is the oldest English language newspaper in the Gulf and the first newspaper in Kuwait, established in 1961.
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2/20/2009 12:11 am |
21. Kuwait used to import water on donkeys from the Shatt Al-Arab.
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2/20/2009 12:11 am |
22. No one knows what happened to the pearls of Kuwait.
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2/20/2009 12:12 am |
23. They say Kuwait has a million tons of dust dumped on it each year by sandstorms.
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2/20/2009 12:13 am |
24. Some argue that the original Kuwaitis were religious pilgrims fleeing the radicalism sweeping the Arabian Peninsula in the mid-1700s.
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2/20/2009 12:14 am |
25. Kuwait has been labeled an oil-rich, tiny, statelet and city state, but my favorite so far is scrappy.
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2/20/2009 12:01 pm |
____________________ ( look, a dragonfly! ) -------------------- ----> o <----- o ------> o@..@ =-=-=-= (----) --------> ( )--( ) --------->o0..0o we have dragonflies and fireflies at night here in the farm When I  low my friends et al give me energy. 
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2/20/2009 12:07 pm |
Our country, The Philippines has many classes of folks and that includes the poor; those with absolutely nothing to hang onto. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:19 pm |
Filipinos are naturally social and love to meet visitors from other places. Filipinos are naturally friendly and make visitors feel welcome by asking they about where they are from and what they do. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:21 pm |
Filipinos are naturally social and love to meet visitors from other places. Filipinos are naturally friendly and make visitors feel welcome by asking they about where they are from and what they do.  When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:22 pm |
The beaches are great. Yahoo Travel says that the Philippines has the first and third most popular beaches in the world (Cebu and Boracay). When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:26 pm |
Filipinos always get to know their neighbors, unlike other countries where people don't even know the people who live next door. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:27 pm |
There are always people on the sidewalks and streets. You never feel alone as the Philippines bustles 24/7. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:31 pm |
You’re never bored in the Philippines. It is animated and filled with music. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:32 pm |
Filipinos are so friendly that they often invite tourists to eat with them at home, even though WE are poor. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:34 pm |
Sales clerks are always helpful and will roam the store with you helping you find things if you want. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:37 pm |
Filipinos avoid heavy conversations that can cause friction in public. You never see arguments over politics or religion break out like you do in other countries. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:41 pm |
MANY Filipinos DO work outside the Philippines. They are well-traveled and know the world but always return home to their islands. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:44 pm |
Traveling to the Philippines is easy. A 21-day tourist visa can be obtained on arrival with no hassles. No need to spend money and make trips to the embassy like you have to when traveling to other countries. The immigration inspectors are always happy to answer questions. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:46 pm |
Shopping and eating out is safe. There are armed security guards at just about every place of business. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:50 pm |
Filipinos are more laid-back. iT's less stressful to LIVE HERE & EASIER TO ENJOY & aPPReCiatE THE GOOD LIFE & BLESSINGs that COME OUR WAY. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:55 pm |
We ENJOY parties and fiestas, and find time to celebrate every important & special occassion in the calendar. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 12:57 pm |
The currency exchange outlets have the exchange rates posted. And there are no people in the airports offering to change money trying to take advantage of tourists. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 1:00 pm |
Taxis are inexpensive. With or without a meter, it will always be 50-80% less expensive than a cab elsewhere in other parts of the globe. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 1:02 pm |
Most restaurants have convenient washing sinks with soap and hand dryers. You don’t have to go into a comfort room if you just want to wash your hands. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 1:04 pm |
The festivals or fiestas are lively. Everyone shows up for their annual barangay fiesta & invite folks from other barangays to join in with the fun & merriment. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 1:09 pm |
You can make friends and strike up a conversation while waiting in line. Again, friendliness. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 1:12 pm |
Great scuba diving. People come from all over the world to scuba dive in the Philippines. Many consider Tubataha Reef (Palawan) as the best we have in the country. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 1:17 pm |
The police are always helpful, especially to visitors. In many third-world countries (such as Mexico) the police look for any excuse to arrest foreigners and shake them down. This is rare in the Philippines. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 1:20 pm |
Most of the visitors to the Philippines travel with their families so the few sex tourists are easy to avoid. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 1:23 pm |
The Philippines is family friendly because of the prices and the attractions. Even the nicest hotels are less expensive than in other countries but they offer the same amenities. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 1:24 pm |
Inexpensive food and other things are available at the food courts of every mall & even from friendly street vendors. You won’t feel like a tourist even if you are one. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 1:26 pm |
You can enjoy a long and relaxing ferry ride in the Philippines at a very low cost. It is a wonderful chance to unwind but take binoculars cause you’ll want to look at islands as you pass them. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 1:30 pm |
Driving in the Philippines is a real adventure. Filipinos are sometimes called the second-worst drivers in the world (after Italy). But here, at least Filipinos drive on the right side of the street. Tourists in other Asian countries run a risk of getting run over because they look the wrong way before stepping into the street to cross. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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2/20/2009 1:54 pm |
And of course, we have Siargao Island, the surfer's paradise. Ranking third amongst the world's deepest oceans, the Philippine Deep is home to the surfer's paradise a small town named after General Luna during the Philippine-American war way back in the late 19th century where the Philippines was under American colonial rule. The famous surf break faces the Pacific Ocean against rocks and corrals below the sea. The wave formation was at par with Hawaii's Maui or that of Australia and neighboring New Zealand. "Cloud 9" as the local folks of General Luna call it is on the Caraga Region of the Northeastern section of Mindanao the second largest island of the Philippine archipelago. Despite its remote location a vacation to the island will bring much fun and excitement. Gone were the days were there was difficulty in communication as satellite phones were then a scarcity. There were only a handful of resort operators operating in the island. Today, the town is booming with tourists mostly Australians, some Europeans, Americans, New Zealanders and others are being welcomed, and there are now resort owners that offer world class facilities offering wireless-fidelity[wi-fi] broadband Internet access, direct satellite television, pool tables and a sea water swimming pool among them Sagana Beach Resort, Ocean 101, Patrick's on the Beach Resort, etc. When I low my friends et al give me energy.
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 2/20/2009 11:51 pm |
It's just "us" here...open up to self disclosure.....do you like to sing? what's your favorite color? Celia....there are no restrictions in blogland...
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2/21/2009 1:41 am |
It's just "us" here...open up to self disclosure.....do you like to sing? what's your favorite color? Celia....there are no restrictions in blogland...   
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2/21/2009 7:20 am |
Kuwait has few traditional menus inherit to the country alone, but brings tastes from all over the Middle East, India, Egypt, China, Thialand, and the Medditerranian. People joke there are two things to do in Kuwait, "Eat and Shop"! Let me say they do both well.
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2/21/2009 7:23 am |
Along with a variety of American fast food, for those of you craving a good ole' cheeseburger, there are literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from ranging from the very expensive to the dirt cheap.
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2/21/2009 7:25 am |
In addition to good food, restaurants like the Palm Palace offer outdoor tents, shisha smoking, bread making in an old stone oven, and, after your meal, a bit of Arabain coffee served on pillows while your server plays Middle Eastern music pounding the beat and grinding the coffee in a large wooden bowl. For just a moment you are transported to another place and time. This is an experience not to be missed!
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2/21/2009 7:28 am |
I heartily recommend each. For those of you craving a little more than a cheeseburger Al Boom Grill, SAS Hotel, is an "unforgettable dining experince" with first class service, steaks, and seafood. Be prepared to spend some cash, though. Casar Sultan,Medan Hawalli, has wonderful decor and great schwarma, another must try for those wanting typical Arabian food
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2/21/2009 7:30 am |
Also on the list is Five Star Thai,Kuwait City, offering beautifully prepared Thai food in an elegant setting. On a less expensive note try Fresh,Salmiya, called a "clean your plate kind of place". Fresh serves big portions and an impressive variety of Arabian bread. For the homemade taste of Iranian food go to Khan Salar, Salmiya. Wondering what Iranian food is? Think a variety of chicken, beef and lamb with yogurt sauces and aromatic rice dishes. Come hungry since portions are plentiful.
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2/21/2009 7:31 am |
Noodles, Salmiya, has great chinese food and a fun atmosphere. Sit back and enjoy after a hectic day of shopping.
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2/21/2009 7:33 am |
Sala Om-Habib, Kuwait City, offers an authenitic atmosphere where you will quickly feel the true culture of Kuwait. It prides itself in good Middle Eastern food which it easily accomplishes in a rich environment
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2/21/2009 7:35 am |
My favorite, Indian food, can be found in the leisurely atmosphere at The Dar Bar, Benid Al Gar. You can also watch the cooks at work through a little window.
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2/21/2009 7:36 am |
For a sightseeing adventure as well as a meal, visit The Horizon Le Cafe, Kuwait Towers. Be sure to eat from the assorted buffet while watching the wonderful view 82 meters up. This restaurant is best described as an "upscale" coffee shop.
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2/21/2009 7:37 am |
Last on the list, try the Turkish Bakery, Old Ardiya, for a traditional cheese fatayer and assorted bakery goods. It's a little shop run by warm friendly people, and you will definetly walk away with a little culture from the experience.
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2/21/2009 7:40 am |
Money is the Kuwaiti "Dinar", KD, and it is equivalent to about $3US. Check the current conversion rate for an exact figure. Coins are "fils" where 1000 fils equals 1KD. Kuwait it a very wealthy society, clean and modern with a mix of cultures and people.
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2/21/2009 7:41 am |
Kuwait is a Muslim country and follows Sharia Law, the basis of Islamic religion, as set forth in The Quran. People who's faith is Christianity are free to practice - in fact some Kuwaitis are Christian. Observance of the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadaan, must be followed, which means that eating, drinking, and smoking in public are strictly prohibited until after sunset. Failure to comply can result in fines and jail time. Pork, pornography, alcohol and drugs are also illegal and such rules are heavily enforced.
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2/21/2009 7:42 am |
Many Kuwaiti women are "covered" (wearing an abia and hijab, a black "robe" from head to toe. Kuwaiti men wear white "robes") and therefore all women should dress conservatively avoiding short skirts, shorts or sleeveless clothes. Some western men do wear shorts when shopping, but it is not recommended such might notice they attract disapproving glances. Women should also avoid staring or smiling at Arab men, since this is a showing of interest and will be taken as such. On the upside, crime is low and women are safe to walk about without fear. Many travel books warn of "harrassment" towards women, but this is misleading. Arab men may show an interest in talking to or dating a western woman, especially blondes, but ignoring any such interest will quickly give them the message.
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2/21/2009 7:43 am |
Take care when sitting to never let the sole of your shoe face directly at another person since this is a sign of insult and avoid taking photographs of Kuwaiti people without permission, especially women.
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2/21/2009 7:45 am |
Kuwait has long, hot, dry summers and shorter, sometimes wet winters. Temperatures easily reach 140 F during summer and most shops close down year round at lunch-time (1pm-4:30pm). The weekend is Thursday and Friday. Friday being the holy day of Jumaah for community prayers at the mosques, followed by lunch and visiting friends (equivalent to the Christian Sunday) so stores are closed until 4.30pm. It is best to check hours of operation before venturing out.
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2/21/2009 7:45 am |
However, there are some 24 hour stores and super-markets, as well as all night internet cafes. Thursday in Kuwait is "couples night", when spouses treat wives to an evening out, as most people not working during such evenings and they take their children shopping, to parks, zoo, beach picnics, entertainment sites, restaurants etc.
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2/21/2009 7:46 am |
Arabic is the official language although English is widely understood and most larger signs are posted in English and Arabic. Both the Kuwait Times and Arab Times publish daily newspapers in English and their "What's On" pages provide a good source for local events.
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2/21/2009 7:51 am |
Kuwait is a small and relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 94 billion barrels—10% of world reserves. Kuwait has rebuilt its war-ravaged petroleum sector; its crude oil production averaged 2 million barrels per day in 1996. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP 90% of export revenues and 75% of government income.
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2/21/2009 7:52 am |
Kuwait lacks water and has practically no arable land thus preventing development of agriculture. With the exception of fish it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported.
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2/21/2009 7:54 am |
Because of its high per capita income Kuwait provides its citizens with extensive health educational and retirement benefits. The bulk of the work force is non-Kuwaiti living at a considerably lower level. Per capita military expenditures are among the highest in the world.
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2/21/2009 7:55 am |
The economy improved moderately in 1994-97 with the growth in industry and finance. The World Bank has urged Kuwait to push ahead with privatization including in the oil industry but the government will move slowly on opening the petroleum sector.
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2/21/2009 7:59 am |
THE FIVE COUNTRIES covered in this volume--Kuwait Bahrain Qatar the United Arab Emirates and Oman--are all Arab states on the Persian Gulf that share certain characteristics.
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2/21/2009 8:01 am |
British Airways has several flights that connect Kuwait and London.
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2/22/2009 2:04 am |
Send us your own list of 25 random things on the country you live in.  
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3/27/2009 4:18 pm |
  Celia dear. Kamusta na? Miss yah!Live Life to the Fullest! ***Me and YOU***
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4/13/2009 8:40 pm |
I wasn't quite sure kasi hanggang airport lang kami ng Kuwait for 5 hours na change plane from Saudi to Phils.Pero sa airport palang don eh ang dami ng mga filipino na nagtatrabaho.
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4/16/2009 12:55 am |
Celia dear. Kamusta na? Miss yah!how's everything with u and the rest of the family?
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4/28/2009 9:16 pm |
u know aha been busy at the tagged com site ...its fun over there.... how's everything with u and the rest of the family?
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4/28/2009 9:22 pm |
SO ENJOY THE GIMMICK
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