When you visit a desert, the last thing you would expect would be FREEZING COLD weather. However, the winters here in Kuwait are just that. Now, the temperature isn't what is considered cold--it's in the high 60's, low 70's. What's cold is the air. The air has this right-through-to-your-bones type of chill. Being very unprepared, I have been scrounging cheap stores for sweaters, scarves, and jackets.When I was first told, "It get's cold here...sometimes in the 50's!" I literally laughed in their face with the response 'That's a typical winter for me in NJ/PA, if not COLDER!' But no...really, no. Look who is laughing now as I freeze my ass off in 60 degree weather saying 'WHY IS IT THIS COLD?!' Bundled up in a sweater, with a jacket, and still shivering at nighttime. That's when it's the worst--nighttime. The sun goes down, and the air (not even wind...just the air) is unbearably chilly.
Well, my thought is that it being so open and dry, that once the sun goes down--the cold comes out. Anyway, just take note that when locals tell you it gets cold, they aren't just being babies about the weather. It really does get cold. So prepare yourself.
Side note on weather: Winter also means more rain! I'm not sure why, but 'tis the season for rain. Now, the best part about rain in Kuwait is that people react to it similarly to snow in Nevada. People can no longer drive...walking is slippery...everyone is squeegy-ing floors (since everything is made of tile). It's a miraculous site. Even more beautiful is the rain itself. The sky gets gray, not black with clouds...just gray. The air becomes crisp with an aroma of moisture, that is rare to feel here. AND the thunder/lightning is unreal. It's loud, the bolts are clear and striking. It's a phenomenon worth traveling for. During a real thunderstorm, not just a rainfall, it's unbelievably gorgeous. I saw one storm while at a shisha place, and I tried to take pictures, but obviously the lightning was too fast to capture and other than that it was plain darkness. It's something that you can only experience in person, or VIA high-tech photo equipment that I cannot offer you pictures from. :P
Hey there, its your cousin Neil.
ReplyDeleteHope you're doing well over there. This post just reminded me of the rain storms in Iraq. The lightning was unreal, I remember standing on the roof of our aid station and taking pictures of it. And, yes it can definitely get cold over there!
I don't know if you've experienced a sandstorm yet, but I'm sure you will if you're there in the summer.
Sounds like you're having a good experience and I hope it continues.
And, happy late birthday!
Hi Neil.
ReplyDeleteI was trying so hard to get pictures of it while I was out to dinner, but it was too impossible to really catch the essence of the storm. Maybe the next one. :P
I have not experienced a sandstorm yet...I came too late in the summer, but hopefully I will be back next year (and earlier, but not too early because of the heat) to see it. I've heard they are wild.
I am definitely having a good experience, I'm quite fond of this part of the Middle East. I hope you had a similar pleasant experience in Iraq when you were here, minus the war part. :/ I know it wasn't full of fun-and-games for you like it is for me.
-Renee