Kuwait Skyline (1)
Kuwait in the 1970’s was called the Paris of the Gulf. People who lived here then talk about it with great nostalgia, they call it paradise. Kuwait was an old trading city, full of merchants and traders. Kuwaiti men went out on fishing boats, and pearling boats, and the love of the sea is still deep in the Kuwaiti soul. The women were strong and adventurous, and took care of all the family business while the men were out to sea.
Kuwait had a tradition of tolerance and sophistication found nowhere else in the Gulf.
So many changes since then, and so much building since the capture of Saddam Hussein. I will try to post photos of some of the changes for distant viewers:
An old favorite:
Changing skyline:
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nice photos.
check out sulaibiya some time for a look at kuwaits ghetto’s 😛 the contrast is quite shocking.
I’ll have to find it on the map, Skunk! Is it a place i would better go with my husband? Would I be safe taking photos on my own?
That’s not a skyline, that’s just a collection of random and scattered non-impressive buildings.
sulaibiya? yes take ur husband, i go there everday after work to my 2nd job. its not as safe. kind of isolated
ummm yeah dont go alone. and definately go during the day, and take pics from inside your locked car.
you should be ok, as its pretty quiet during the day, but like fonzy said take your husband with you.
my cars in the shop otherwise i’d offer to be the second car in a jleeb / jahra / sulaibiya ghetto safari 😛
oh and there are soo many other places much more interesting than downtown, but yeah some places are a bit dodgy and you should have someone with you.
Oh I agree with the commenters, there are a few ‘interesting’ places…the underbelly that people generally don’t see.
I miss the old Kuwait..the Kuwait back in the 80’s. It was nice n quiet back then.
Changing skyline indeed and only over the past 3-4 years!
However, Kuwait now still have a long way ahead of her…
Anonymous – Yep.
Thanks, Fonz, good info.
I think Jahra is sort of off limits, isn’t it, Skunk?
Mini R – Souk Mubarakiyya is still pretty cool. The old gold market. The Friday Market. Some places are harder to take photos than other places, though.
Kinan, I see some promising signs. The Mermaid in Mangaf. There is a swirling building going up on Gulf Road, also I think by Tijaria. I still think the National Assembly building is pretty cool, sort of Saarinen.
jahra’s quite alright actually.
generally there arent that many really scary places here, atleast nothing as bad as the ghettos in ny or la. both of which i’ve actually been to.
and if you go during the day time you should be alright, and jahra is pretty interesting if youre not from around here.
but if you do go, go with a friend, and go maybe wear like shades and a headscarf so you dont look too obviously foreign 😛
i’m pretty sure its no worse than some of the poorer places you must have seen in the african countries youve been to.
LOL – Skunk, I’ve never been to the ghettos in LA or NY! but yes, I have seen desperate poverty. Headscarf and glasses it is – then I will look truly incognito! Thanks Skunk, for the good info.
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Beautiful pics!! You made me miss Kuwait! 😦
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