Arabian Gulf '06

Arabian Gulf - Kuwait

Day 8 Fri 24 Feb 2006

Down for breakfast at the hotel, and then a stroll downtown, I found a souq (a modern version), and staggered into a fish market - they had some really big fish there! There are very few people around, maybe it's due to friday prayers? I was trying to find the waterfront, and almost gave up (worked out that the LP map wasn't that accurate - or maybe it was my map reading?). I followed my nose, and spotted a church(!) in the distance that was marked on the map. From that I could work out where I was.

Walked down the waterfront passed the National Assembly building and the National museum (both shut!). Phew, back to the hotel to rest my poor feet. I'm amazed at the cost of things, a bottle of water and a chocolate bar is 250fils (a quarter of a dinar), if you try to pass a one dinar note they will ask if you have anything smaller. That's never a good sign.

From the Kuwait Tower

Kuwait is different from Qatar and Yemen, it's not as 'advanced' as Qatar, but the Mall has all the big names. Grabbed some lunch, and then headed out to see the Kuwait Towers. I walked miles to get there, paid my 1 dinar entrance fee, and took the lift up to the viewing deck. There are great views of the city - lots of photos!

Walked back along the waterfront and saw a group of guys playing (of all things) American Football on the beach. Then onward to the Sharq Souq (a modern mall with a Debenhams!). This place was packed with people. There's another fish market right next door, so had a look around that as well. It's much larger than the one I found this morning, but it doesn't have the same atmosphere.

While walking back to the hotel I spotted a demonstration taking place - my guess was that it could be to do with the destruction of the mosque in Iraq that happened the other day, so I decided to avoid the area.

Had supper in the Indian restaurant on the 10th floor of the hotel, it was full of Indians, so I guess that's a good sign! The food was good! Yummy!