I have visited both of these landmarks before back in October. I can say that they were much more enjoyable at 80oF than 115oF. As I was trekking through both familiar spots, I was able to compare and contrast my experiences. Here are a few of my observations.
I think I have stated this before: Kuwait is not a clean country. People do not really have a regard for throwing their garbage away and keeping their environment clean. Back in October, it was way too hot for most people to go out into the desert, so there was not a large amount of garbage. After returning in February, I could clearly tell that many people go out to camp on the ridge. It is upsetting to see the only place in Kuwait to hike is defiled.
When we were coming back from our short hike at the ridge, we noticed a police car driving toward us on the sand. After they realized we were not having an illicit party and we were truly there to hike, the policeman put his thumb up and asked us if we liked Kuwait. We don’t always hear the greatest compliments about the police officers here, but my first encounter with them was positive. Hopefully that will be my only encounter with them, Insha’Allah.
After stopping at the most random Burger King in the middle of the desert, we were off to the satellite station. Another difference we noticed from October was the amount of luxury tents. In the winter and spring, mini cities of tents span for miles and miles. This sight was very similar to my last post about how the Kuwaitis go glamping in the desert.
Once we arrived at the satellite station, I immediately saw that the sand had risen much higher than the last time I had visited. This meant that we were able to actually climb on the roof of the first building. Avoiding the occasional hole that was blown into the concrete from the Iraqis, it was a great way to get a 360o view of the desert. From up top we could see camels roaming, tents off in the distance, and all the crumbling buildings surrounding us.
After climbing back down from the roof, I went into one of the buildings that we think was the mosque. This time, I actually looked up. I am glad I did not look up in October because if I had, I probably would never had stepped into one of those buildings again. Concrete pieces of the building were loosely hanging by thin wire. The only fact that gave me piece of mind was the fact that these concrete pieces having been hanging since 1990, so what are the chances they would fall on me?
Of course, I was very excited to go back and see the graffiti wall. Below, I have my second picture of this wall. It is exactly the same as the last time I visited the satellite station. I believe this is the strongest image I have seen since I arrived in August. It really opened my eyes and let me know how close I am to utter chaos. My day-to-day life is ordinary. I don’t think about the fact that I am in the Middle East and Kuwait borders a country that is unstable and plagued by terrorism. This graffiti wall made me stop and think.
I am writing this blog post in the Oman Airport at 5:00am. I haven’t had much sleep and I am going diving in a few hours. Two days of diving then I am heading back home. This is a good transition to my Kuwaiti Fact of the Day.
Kuwaiti Fact of the Day:
This weekend is Liberation Day and National Day to celebrate the end of Iraq’s occupation. On Liberation Day, there are very little rules. From what I have heard, kids are allowed to drive cars, people run around throwing water balloons and shooting each other with super soakers, and people just jump in and out of cars. Needless to say, I think my time in Oman will be more relaxed than this weekend in Kuwait.