Huge Kites and Monster Trucks

While driving in Kuwait, I came across some gigantic kites flying in the sky:





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Then later on, on the fifth ring road, I found a convoy of monster trucks, I don't know what the occasion was, but it was cool to see.











I love Kuwait.

Two strikes you are out

According to Gulf Daily News:


Kuwait to deport expats for second traffic offence

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait is to get tough with expatriates who fail to respect the rules of the road and will even deport repeat offenders.

"The interior minister (Sheikh Jaber Khaled Al Sabah) has ordered that expatriates who jump a red light and have a previous conviction for a traffic offence should be deported," a senior interior ministry official said yesterday. He said his department will implement the order strictly in a bid to promote road safety.


Please don't apply these rules, not because we do not want to lose our guest workers but because the roads are already slow because of overcautious expat drivers driving at the speed of snails and holding the traffic back behind them. Put more cameras instead and make more money from the exorbitant fines.

Priceless Moment

Bribing the crooked sponsor for a Kuwait work permit - 800 KD
Paying for own ticket to Kuwait - 200 KD
Renting one room in jleeb al shuyookh shared with 10 other guys - 100 KD
Getting paid occasionally for daily manual labor - 7 KD

Riding in the back of the wanette next to the satellite dish and cooker - Priceless

Qatari Stunt Driving

Some boys from Qatar had a free afternoon so they went out for a ride.

Jordanian Special Forces

The valiant Jordanian Special Forces conducting an exercise.

Bad Weather

Yesterday was the worst weather ever, red dust all morning then monsoon like rain causing torrents of mud.

In bad weather, be sure to drive slowly, safely, buckle up and watch out for the drivers around you.

This poor guy was not very careful.

Our Camel Lovely Camel

Camels, those noble animals that travelled across the Arabian Deserts. Travelling in Caravans transporting people and cargo and supplying the town bazaars.

Now, in the present day, Camels get to ride in Toyota pick up trucks (or wanette). Here is a picture of a lovely camel as seen on the Maghreb Expressway on towards Kuwait City.

Picking Up in Vietnam

When you have a piece of furniture to move around, you wave down a wannette. Well in Vietnam, they do things a little differently:

The War in Iraq has gone Mad Max

Remember Mad Max, followed by Mad Max 2 and concluded with Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome? Mad Max was a cult favorite that told the story of Mel Gibson (Mad Max) trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. There was an oil shortage, souped up, weaponized cars and crazy car chases. Here is a common scene from Mad Max:




Because of logistics foul ups, or immediacy or possibly because some soldiers wanted to Pimp their rides, pick up trucks North of our Border in Iraq have make shift weapons and armor installed on them.







Notice the sign on the concrete barricade indicating the direction to Kuwait.










More pictures here and here.

I tihnk when the war is eventually over, I will go to the Basra scrap yard and buy one of these trucks and equip it with paint ball bullets so I can shoot bad drivers, people talking on their mobiles and people driving very slow in the fast lane.

Finally, here is Kathem Al Saher with Sara Brightman singing "The War is Over"

Dancing Wanette

Now exclusively on this blog, we proudly present the Dancing Wanette:

The Fine Art of Wanette Riding

Most of you are fortunate enough to have a car that gives you freedom to drive around all over Kuwait whenever and wherever you like. In these times of stock market instability and the possibility of instant unexpected poverty, I wish to enlighten you about the fine art of Wannete riding.


Wanette


Wannetes is the Kuwaiti word for the ubiqitious pick up truck that you find driving around in Kuwait and in the Arabian peninsula in general.

There are different wannetes available on the streets of Kuwait, some are privately owned, others belong to one of the assorted companies in Kuwait. The company's logo will clearly be marked on the side. Other Wanettes belong to Kuwaiti individuals and have funky colors and customized exteriors with stickers and writings advertising the owner's taste and inclinations.


Kuwaiti Wanette - Funky Colors - Extreme Customization - Obligatory Markings / Sticker


Wanette drivers come in all shapes and sizes also. The driver could have a chremba meaning he is of Arab origin or Persian origin. There are Indian drivers that can be identified by their dark complexion, and red lips and at regular intervals would be spitting a red stream. Do not be alarmed when you see this, the indian driver does not have tuberculosis, bronchitis or a new lung disease. He is most probably chewing ban which is a minor narcotic chewed by the different indian populace in Kuwait. The side effect of it is a feel good buzz, red spit and orange tongue.


Indian Driver and Passenger


You will find drivers that are fully dressed in traditional Kuwaiti dress being a white guhtra, black iqal and dishdasha, all clean and properly starched and pressed. Extremely sakba. Don't be fooled, the driver is not Kuwaiti but of arabic origin and could be Syrian, Palestinian, Ahwazi or even Bidoon. The purpose of the costume is to avoid the checkpoints and road side stops initiated by our vigilant traffic police.

To ride a wanette you can stand anywhere on either side of the street and wave a Wanette down. Wannete's are very friendly and customer oriented and will stop even in the middle of the street creating minor traffic jams and bruised bumpers but do not worry, it is not your problem.

Once the Wanette stops, you have the option to sit near the driver, or in case the weather is cool and the driver smells bad, you can sit in the back of the Wanette.


Not a Wanette - Do NOT attempt to stop

Wanette drivers are not allowed by law to carry passengers for a fee but they are allowed to transport things for you and receive a fee. Some enterprising drivers will have an old fridge or used cupboard permanenetly placed in the back of the Wanette. In the unlikey event that you get stopped by the police, the quick excuse that you are transporting your fridge will be presented and you will be let off.

Rates vary between 250 fils to 1 Dinar depending on how good you are at bargaining.

Now that you know a little more about Wanettes, feel free to catch a ride. It will definitely be something to remember.

Crazy Driving in Kuwait

First I thought it was a bad accident stopping traffic, but then I realized the wanette was driving normally and just wanted to take the left side of the road. Extreme between, I guess.

Sunset in Kuwait

This is not a romantic sunset with fiery sea and a warm sun slowly dissapearing behind the horizon.

This is a Kuwaiti sunset. Stuck in traffic behind a crazy wanette driver, Road construction ahead Traffic static for miles and an in your face sun blinding you as it goes down.

Have a nice day.