Kuwait
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Travel Tips
The National Museum is now closed for renovations and has been since December 22, 2001. According to the information at the museum it might take three or more years before it will reopen. The exception is the planetarium that will open this Monday (Feb 18th) and an occasional exhibition that might be held.
Peter Braat, Netherlands (Feb 02)
Everyone should try dates while in the Middle East. The best are from Saudi and Oman. They are sticky sweet and often have an aniseed flavour and are massively superior to the dessicated tasteless things that are sold in Western supermarkets. The best dates are packaged in large metal cans (originally probably kerosene tins) and the seller then uses a wooden paddle to separate a lump off the block.
Go to the Friday market - held in a huge open area to the south of the 4th ring road (behind the line of garden shops) and west of the airport road. It sells everything from cheap clothes and shoes to lightbulbs, perfume, homewares, carpets, diwaniya chairs, etc. While most of it is junk there are a few dealers selling quite good quality Iranian antiques (mainly brassware, jewellery and rugs). Whether or not you want to buy anything, the amazing assortment of kitsch is really quite interesting, as are the shoppers. Take water and a hat in summer!.
Until the suburbs spread south Fahaheel was a separate village and is the main aggregation of shops and restaurants south of the city. While Salmiya is the "western" parts of Kuwait, Fahaheel and Jahra are the more "bedouin" ones. The majority of female shoppers here are in the full black gear and westerners should also dress appropriately. The fish souk and dhow harbour is more "traditional" than the marble and glass palace in the city. Fahaheel sits right beside the Mina al-Ahmadi refinery (one of the largest in the world) so the air quality can leave something to be desired.
John & Rosemary Hillard, Australia (Dec 01)
Gems, Highlights & Attractions
Souq Almubarakiya is an old market in the heart of Kuwait City where one can find spices, traditional clothing, antiques, weavings and carpets. Next to the Almubarakiya is the women's souq. Friday Market is worth visiting after Friday prayer where one can find antiques, Persian rugs and other ornaments and artefacts and bargain for a good price.
Anon, Kuwait (Oct 02)
The Bridge to Nowhere: There is a very worthwhile drive that you can do to Bubiyan Island (follow "Subiya" signs from Jahra). Bubiyan is a barren uninhabited island up by the border, the ownership of which has long been disputed with Iraq and Iran. To reinforce their claim, Kuwait built a large bridge to link it to the mainland. You drive over this bridge, do a u-turn and drive back across it. It is known locally as the "bridge to nowhere". There is still a fair bit of war damage visible with the ruins of the police post and a few destroyed trucks and artillery pieces. The Iraqis had blown out the centre span during the occupation and the bridge reopened a year or so ago after rebuilding.
It is about 50kms from Jahra and it is a pleasant drive along the road that follows the line of the Mutla Ridge and eventually climbs over it near Bubiyan. The landscape is less spoilt than the rest of Kuwait and there are nice views of the Multa Ridge on one side and Kuwait Bay on the other. You will usually see a hundred or so camels grazing at the side of the road. About half way along, you will find that the road is fenced on both sides and you will reach a grandiose gate on either side with large signs saying "Kuwait National Park". The guards will, of course, not let you through the gate and there appears to be absolutely nothing to see anyway. Being photographed under the sign in the middle of nowhere is one of Kuwait's peak tourist experiences!
John & Rosemary Hillard, Australia (Dec 01)
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