Kuwait
In 2011 I embarked on an impromptu visit of several Persian Gulf countries, buying one way tickets along the way and showing up for unannounced visits with precious little pre-planning. I was literally flying by the seat of my pants for a few weeks, staying in each country just long enough to see the highlights before moving on. I had read the Kuwait was rather friendly to Americans since our vital contribution of liberating the country from Iraqi occupation two decades ago, so that seemed as good of a reason as any to start there.
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My path to Kuwait took me directly over Iraq to Dubai, then a double back to Kuwait itself.
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The largest entry visa I've ever seen. I had heard that Americans could get a visa on arrival in Kuwait, but the check-in agent in Dubai asked to see my visa, which made me a little concerned. I landed in Kuwait City and stood in the main passport line, but it wasn't long before I realized I didn't have all of the paperwork that everyone else in line seemed to have. I was eventually told to go upstairs to the visa issuance desk first. After standing in line there, I was told the fee was 2KD and it was payable only in cash in local currency, so I had to go exchange money and come back to pay for the visa before my passport was returned to me. All in all, not the easiest of entry formalities; it felt like performing one of the road blocks on Amazing Race.
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My hotel in Kuwait City, the Ibis Sharq (pictured on the right),
picked because it was a brand new property and was within walking distance of the Kuwait Towers.
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Hotel lobby spiral staircase.
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A couple view of Kuwait City from my hotel window.
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It always amuses me when I go online from a new foreign country. Ad companies are always able to track your location through the ISP you are using, so the ads are usually tailored for your locale. I find it hilarious to see that the main content never seems to change no matter where in the world I go! :)
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Breakfast buffet at the hotel.
The ban on pork products in the Muslim world is made up for with chicken sausages and beef bacon.
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The old must make way for the new, apparently...
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Inside a local taxi with the Kuwait Towers visible in the distance.
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Couldn't resist taking this shot of the towers with the local Ruby Tuesday franchise (where I enjoyed a very nice lobster lunch). Kuwait is a land of contrasts, and it was almost always possible to put two entirely different perspectives like this into any photograph I wanted.
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The Kuwait Towers is made up of three towers; the tallest (with two spheres) is 614 feet (187m) high. The lower globe on the largest tower stores nearly 1 million gallons of water. The smaller top sphere on that tower is an observation deck. The tower with a single sphere is also used for water storage. The smallest tower lights up the other two at night.
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Closeup of the tower "sequins".
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Inside the Viewing Sphere, looking up.
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View of Kuwait City skyline from the top of Kuwait Towers.
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View of Kuwait City coastline looking south from the Viewing Sphere.
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One of the Kuwait Towers viewed from the observation deck of the other.
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Another shot straight down at the adjacent sphere and the ground below.
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Quiet father & son beach moment.
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My neighborhood lit up at night.
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Dust storm on Day 2 in Kuwait.
This was shot at 9:30 in the morning as I was ready to head out for some sightseeing. Eeeek.
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Exact quote from my taxi cab driver: "It's raining dust." Ick.
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Time to find some sightseeing indoors to dodge the dust outside. Next stop, the Scientific Center: equal parts aquarium, science displays, fast food outlets, tacky gift shop, and IMAX theater. On the left, a large shark display in front of the IMAX theatre. On the right, some amazingly fancy decor for what turns out to be just the entryway to the women's bathroom.
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Here's the entrance to the Kuwait Aquarium itself. And a picture of ... sand? This was my first indication that this was not going to be a normal "aquarium" experience.
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The aquarium is divided into three zones. The first zone is The Desert (no water), the second is Coastal (some water), and the third is Ocean (water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink!). At least Kuwait has a coastline, so there is some connection to water there. You step just a few feet into the "aquarium" and are presented immediately with a reminder that you are in a country that has almost no water by several desert wildlife displays. Here, a caracal (desert cat) lounges on a rock, and below that, the first time I have ever seen a live viper in an aquarium exhibit.
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Considering sightseeing outside was rather impossible at the moment, I was surprised that the aquarium didn't have more people inside.
Couples certainly had plenty of quiet time together.
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One of the more interesting looking mosques I saw in Kuwait.
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The royal family smiles and waves at passers by.
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2011 was quite the milestone year for Kuwait. 50th year since independence from Britain. 20th anniversary of the liberation from Iraq. And the 5th year of the current ruler's reign. This monument is quite large so I stuck myself in at the bottom just to show scale.
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Everywhere in Kuwait there are cranes moving about.
This is clearly a country with a lot of surplus money to spend.
