Iraq Border and finally...some camels

Walking a camel

Falcon

In February (I'm really behind on the postings), a group of teachers and I rented a car and decided 'Meh, let's go to the Iraq border'. Of course we wouldn't be allowed to cross without a visa, but we still wanted to venture that way and give Iraq a big f-you. Iraq is a good 200 km drive, so of course along the way we would take pit-stops at various locations.

First one, an actual geological land form in Kuwait. This is rare, people. Kuwait is flat...desert, sand...flat. So to see a mountainous looking land. We had to explore. We drove to the top in a vehicle that was not 4-wheel drive aka it was a slow journey up the hills. Once we got there though, the sights were breathtaking. Four-wheelers were cruising around, families having picnics, and other cars off-roading on the dunes. After about an hour at this site, we continued on our trek and landed at a camel farm. Yes, a farm with camels.

Hello Iraq

IRAQ

Finally, I was beginning to think camels didn't exist in Kuwait. I thought camels in the desert was like kangaroos in Australia or squirrels in NJ, but apparently they are only in very remote areas or on farms. So, these kind gentleman (who seemed bored out of their minds anyway) welcomed us onto their farm and let us pet, feed, and WALK their camels. Sadly, they were pregnant and males are vicious so we couldn't ride them. But walking them was just as thrilling. We all had our fill, but the men were like 'we have more' yallah come. We went to the back and saw horses, dogs, more camels (that were in 'time-out' for fighting), and a FALCON. These men owned a falcon. Which to me was horrible, but I guess if they have it--may as well hold it. One of those, if you can't beat them--join them ordeals. I was the only one willing to put on the glove...what an experience. They're beautiful birds. Continuing on, we made it to the border. Where pictures aren't allowed -_-. Good thing for camera phones!

What picture?

Secretively, I took pictures and had my subjects play nonchalant. Since we couldn't take actual pictures near the border gate like we originally planned, we went further down to another section that was fenced off. So the boys could express their feelings about the country. Us girls thought, let's spell out IRAQ instead--better for us. Since we couldn't participate in their fun.






Lastly, on the way back...we stopped at an abandoned town. Not sure if it's remains of the invasion or not--probably was since it was so close to the border--but it was fun to climb through-over-and play "call-of-duty" in.

House of Mirrors: qadisiya, kuwait

It was almost unbelievable when I began asking around about the house of Mirrors and no one knew what I was talking about. 'Wait, you've lived here your whole life and an expat knows a place you don't. I'll take it.'

So, there is this lady that fell in love with a very well known Kuwaiti artist, Khalifa Qatton. She moved to Kuwait with him to settle (before the invasion) and decided while he was out at work or on business, she would do artsy things. Her medium? Mirrors. In the sixties, she began breaking mirrors (by cutting the shapes she wanted - not just smashing) and covering the outside of her house with them in mosaics.

During the invasion, they built an external wall around their house to protect themselves. And once that was over (humdallah) she continued her art on the inside...from top to bottom. She also mentioned that her display was done twice! What you see today is the second time she's mosaic'd her whole house. The first time she used too big of glass pieces, and it became dirty and finger-printed too quickly. The second time she was more enthusiastic about the idea, and was more careful--knowing the rights and wrongs of glass mosaics.

She shows your each room--all telling a story. I won't go too much into details because it's better lived than read. Though, she has a room about creation (big bang theory) and an AMAZING room about the solar system. My favorite room because things glowed-in-the-dark and you could throw artwork around (it stuck the the walls).

The final stop of the tour is her upstairs. Dedicated to her husband, the whole upstairs displays her deceased husbands artwork. She reminisces about him with such heart that you feel apart of their family.




Her house, the story, the hospitality was all breath-taking. If you're in Kuwait and you've never heard of this place, you need to check it out. There's a 2KD charge, but she welcomes you into her home, tells you her life-story, and of course gives you drinks and snacks (all homemade).