The Friday Market: Souk Al-Jouma

Souk Al-Jouma--household items section?

This was a trip for the books. If you're every in Kuwait, you must take a visit to Souk Al-Jouma (the friday market). Don't let the name fool you, it's open every day. My assumption is that most vendors are there on Fridays.










So, in the need of ANYTHING? Sewing machine, car engine, livestock,... couch?? If so, this is the place to go to practice bargaining skills (never ever pay what they price it as) and get items you need for a reasonable price. This is a GIANT flea market. For those living in or near NJ that have heard of Rices Flea Market--this is what I would compare it to. Except for it being more crowded with items...like the most random items in bulk. There was an entire carpet section (so I of course had to buy one for my living room).

The livestock section. Prior to entering, I was warned that what I was about to see is animal cruelty at its worst, and that I'd want to rescue (key word: rescue) everything. So, before even going past the door, I told myself that it wasn't real. If you are an animal lover like I, make yourself as naive and ignorant as possible before entering. Really. Once beyond the door, there were thousands of birds crowded into cages. Parrots, chickens, roosters, canaries, cockatiels...EVERY. TYPE. OF. BIRD. POSSIBLE. And apparently I only saw the front section, the "exotics" were in the back. 0_0 Next you go through a section of bunnies. BUNNIES. My heart melted. They were sooo small and piled on top of each other in cages.


















But the WORST and I mean the WORST were the puppies and dogs. (Thankfully didn't see the cats/kittens because everyone knows I WOULD have brought home all of them) The older dogs looked starved. Like watching a Sarah McLachlan commercial to save the animals. That was the hardest one to see. I wanted to snatch up all the dogs, knowing that the puppies would grow (if not bought) to be just like those older ones.

So, maybe avoid the livestock section, but still--if ever in Kuwait, take a trip to the friday market. Especially if you're moving here and want to refurnish your entire apartment/villa/house. Everything is in one place. From cleaning supplies--furniture--to animals.