I attended the grand opening for Baroue. It is a new store at the Avenues that caters to children and is a Kuwaiti concept. These guys have put a lot of passion and dedication to this and it shows.
I was impressed with it size and attention to details and just how it attends to both parents and children. You really have to check it out to really see all the features and wonder feeling from just entering the place.
I attended the grand opening for Baroue. It is a new store at the Avenues that caters to children and is a Kuwaiti concept. These guys have put a lot of passion and dedication to this and it shows.
I was impressed with it size and attention to details and just how it attends to both parents and children. You really have to check it out to really see all the features and wonder feeling from just entering the place.
Today we had the first Kuwait Blogger Meetup at Second Cup in Kuwait City. It was a great event we had good a turn out in my opinion and it was great puttting faces to names and actually talking to people and getting to know them personally instead of just reading their blogs.
We stayed a long time at Second Cup and talked about lots of random stuff, audiologist and really not a lot about blogging suprisingly. I enjoyed it for I really love meeting new people and especially having a good conversation with them. A good stimulating crowd that wasn’t shy and very open to sharing and hearing other people’s opinions.
Tata did a good job of picking the even and getting people to come to it. Even though when I tried calling him he wasn’t picking up or replying to my messages. He said he didn’t hear the phone, pill I think that means it is time for a haircut for him. For his efforts I got him a Moleskine. He always said he has a lot of ideas that he forgets, so now he doesn’t have an excuse and its good for his creativity.
Some of the group left there around 9, while the rest of stayed to talk then went to get food at Restaurant 99 for sharwarmas and more talking.
It was a really good meetup, good conversation with good people. I really dont want to get into more detail about it, cause if you didn’t come you missed out. Also the people who came got to learn the meaning of nibaq. So you if you were thinking about coming to this one and didn’t, you better come to the next one!
I attended the grand opening for Baroue. It is a new store at the Avenues that caters to children and is a Kuwaiti concept. These guys have put a lot of passion and dedication to this and it shows.
I was impressed with it size and attention to details and just how it attends to both parents and children. You really have to check it out to really see all the features and wonder feeling from just entering the place.
Today we had the first Kuwait Blogger Meetup at Second Cup in Kuwait City. It was a great event we had good a turn out in my opinion and it was great puttting faces to names and actually talking to people and getting to know them personally instead of just reading their blogs.
We stayed a long time at Second Cup and talked about lots of random stuff, audiologist and really not a lot about blogging suprisingly. I enjoyed it for I really love meeting new people and especially having a good conversation with them. A good stimulating crowd that wasn’t shy and very open to sharing and hearing other people’s opinions.
Tata did a good job of picking the even and getting people to come to it. Even though when I tried calling him he wasn’t picking up or replying to my messages. He said he didn’t hear the phone, pill I think that means it is time for a haircut for him. For his efforts I got him a Moleskine. He always said he has a lot of ideas that he forgets, so now he doesn’t have an excuse and its good for his creativity.
Some of the group left there around 9, while the rest of stayed to talk then went to get food at Restaurant 99 for sharwarmas and more talking.
It was a really good meetup, good conversation with good people. I really dont want to get into more detail about it, cause if you didn’t come you missed out. Also the people who came got to learn the meaning of nibaq. So you if you were thinking about coming to this one and didn’t, you better come to the next one!
Arrived in Sharm ok, online well I wouldn’t have carried where that plane landed I just wanted to get off it. My god some people should be banned from flying. The Sagayda with me were just annoying moving around from chair to chair, asking for more bread over and over again. When we were landing, we are all supposed to sit in our seats with seatbelts but these guys kept moving, standing up and wondering when they will get more tea.
The Kuwait Airways airplane also sucked, they showed a cool movie Cellular. But my head phone only worked with one ear, and if I moved around in my seat I didn’t hear anything. I tried other head phone jacks next to me but those didn’t work at all. Serisouly annoying.
It was an alright flight overall, quick and easy straight to Sharm El Sheik. The airport is sooo tiny, when I got there the passport people were just hanging around. I think it was 8 or 9 of us that got off the plane, it continued to Luxor. I had a carry on so straight outside.
I setup for tomorrow a diving trip form 8:30-5:00pm that will be long and tiring. I just know when I get back I will be dead. Hopefully I have some energy for the dinner and more importantly the Seattle / St Louis game at 11:30. I am so excited that I got access to ESPN and FOX Sports. Going to watch me football.
Currently in Nimat bay, found a internet cafe what I pay here for 1 hour is like 1/2 at the hotel. I swear they just keep nickle and diming you on anything. Even the health clup you have to pay money to get in. Bastards.
I wanted to eat at Hard Rock but its like an hour wait and didn’t feel like eating anywhere else in the streets so I goto the standard fast food. It filled me up and just going to wander around a bit maybe stop for a sheesha.
Lots of nationalities here, in my hotel is like Russia central they are all over the place, but the city has a mix of Italians, Spanish, German, English and I think I heard some French. Very international place, and the people are friendly. Well they have to be tourism is their source of income.
The weather is like 20-25c when I arrived, but its quiet chilly now, like Kuwait weather in winter, but with some humidity. I will take a sweater with me tomorrow just incase I get cold in the boat.
I am tempted to go stop at the TCHE TCHE sheesha here, jsut cause we have one in Kuwait and say I been to the one in Dubai, Kuwait and now here. But its just to busy for my liking.
Time to go walk around now.
I attended the grand opening for Baroue. It is a new store at the Avenues that caters to children and is a Kuwaiti concept. These guys have put a lot of passion and dedication to this and it shows.
I was impressed with it size and attention to details and just how it attends to both parents and children. You really have to check it out to really see all the features and wonder feeling from just entering the place.
Today we had the first Kuwait Blogger Meetup at Second Cup in Kuwait City. It was a great event we had good a turn out in my opinion and it was great puttting faces to names and actually talking to people and getting to know them personally instead of just reading their blogs.
We stayed a long time at Second Cup and talked about lots of random stuff, audiologist and really not a lot about blogging suprisingly. I enjoyed it for I really love meeting new people and especially having a good conversation with them. A good stimulating crowd that wasn’t shy and very open to sharing and hearing other people’s opinions.
Tata did a good job of picking the even and getting people to come to it. Even though when I tried calling him he wasn’t picking up or replying to my messages. He said he didn’t hear the phone, pill I think that means it is time for a haircut for him. For his efforts I got him a Moleskine. He always said he has a lot of ideas that he forgets, so now he doesn’t have an excuse and its good for his creativity.
Some of the group left there around 9, while the rest of stayed to talk then went to get food at Restaurant 99 for sharwarmas and more talking.
It was a really good meetup, good conversation with good people. I really dont want to get into more detail about it, cause if you didn’t come you missed out. Also the people who came got to learn the meaning of nibaq. So you if you were thinking about coming to this one and didn’t, you better come to the next one!
Arrived in Sharm ok, online well I wouldn’t have carried where that plane landed I just wanted to get off it. My god some people should be banned from flying. The Sagayda with me were just annoying moving around from chair to chair, asking for more bread over and over again. When we were landing, we are all supposed to sit in our seats with seatbelts but these guys kept moving, standing up and wondering when they will get more tea.
The Kuwait Airways airplane also sucked, they showed a cool movie Cellular. But my head phone only worked with one ear, and if I moved around in my seat I didn’t hear anything. I tried other head phone jacks next to me but those didn’t work at all. Serisouly annoying.
It was an alright flight overall, quick and easy straight to Sharm El Sheik. The airport is sooo tiny, when I got there the passport people were just hanging around. I think it was 8 or 9 of us that got off the plane, it continued to Luxor. I had a carry on so straight outside.
I setup for tomorrow a diving trip form 8:30-5:00pm that will be long and tiring. I just know when I get back I will be dead. Hopefully I have some energy for the dinner and more importantly the Seattle / St Louis game at 11:30. I am so excited that I got access to ESPN and FOX Sports. Going to watch me football.
Currently in Nimat bay, found a internet cafe what I pay here for 1 hour is like 1/2 at the hotel. I swear they just keep nickle and diming you on anything. Even the health clup you have to pay money to get in. Bastards.
I wanted to eat at Hard Rock but its like an hour wait and didn’t feel like eating anywhere else in the streets so I goto the standard fast food. It filled me up and just going to wander around a bit maybe stop for a sheesha.
Lots of nationalities here, in my hotel is like Russia central they are all over the place, but the city has a mix of Italians, Spanish, German, English and I think I heard some French. Very international place, and the people are friendly. Well they have to be tourism is their source of income.
The weather is like 20-25c when I arrived, but its quiet chilly now, like Kuwait weather in winter, but with some humidity. I will take a sweater with me tomorrow just incase I get cold in the boat.
I am tempted to go stop at the TCHE TCHE sheesha here, jsut cause we have one in Kuwait and say I been to the one in Dubai, Kuwait and now here. But its just to busy for my liking.
Time to go walk around now.
Went snorkling today, web that was good fun. I really enjoy being in the sea water, site there really isn’t anything like being in just open water really a good feeling. I hada good time with the diving and the people on the boats. They were Russians, skincare Italians, and Germans and one Kuwaiti, and of course the Egyptian crew.
I found out something about the Egyptians here they are all from different areas of Egypt, but each area has a speciality. Its like the drivers are from Cairo, the waiters and bar staff are from Luxor, the boat crew are from Alexandria.
When I frist dived in my body took a while to get used to everything. Its been a while since I done any diving snorkel or tank. So had to remeber long deep breaths. The corals were alright, there wasn’t anything wow. I recall last time I was here it was just more vibrant, and also I been to other places then, so maybe the area they took us was the regular areas. One thing I did enjoy was the small pink corals just forming by the shore. Those were really eye catching to me for this sea of beige and then you have this pink coral. Its like a flower in the desert.
On the way to the diving area it got cold fast. This feirce wind came out of now where and blowed everyone inside. Luckily I had my sweater and my towel and with those waves I knew it would be a bad thing to stay inside with those people and heat going up and down. I stayed up with the captian and blocked myself from the wind and reading the Illiad.
One of the highlights for me was when we were going back and met some dolphins/porposis. We got close to them and I got some pictures of them jumping and next to us. I think those will come out good.
Now we got back in time to last night. I wandered around a bit and ran into the Kuwaitis that were on the flight with me at a sheesha place. They invited me to join them and we sat and talked and looked that the people walking back and forth. This was like a short street I already ran into them 3 times earlier that night. We discussed if they closed Salmiya and just made it into one long walking area and did it like here with coffee shops on either side and stores behind them you would see a great boom in Kuwait with people actually going out and walking. I told them I would love to see that in Kuwait City, where its really is a shame that you dont see Kuwaitis living or doing anything there besides driving to and from work.
We started the business now, met with the people had a nice dinner with them tomorrow 8:15 time to bust out my notes taking skills and start learning. I think I will call it an early night. The Seahawks – St Lous game was last night and sadly we lost in OT. I dont know what will happen next year, I hope they keep Holgrem and stuff cause really he is a great coach and done wonders for the team.
Its a nice night I may go for a walk before hand and just relaxt the body a bit.
I attended the grand opening for Baroue. It is a new store at the Avenues that caters to children and is a Kuwaiti concept. These guys have put a lot of passion and dedication to this and it shows.
I was impressed with it size and attention to details and just how it attends to both parents and children. You really have to check it out to really see all the features and wonder feeling from just entering the place.
Today we had the first Kuwait Blogger Meetup at Second Cup in Kuwait City. It was a great event we had good a turn out in my opinion and it was great puttting faces to names and actually talking to people and getting to know them personally instead of just reading their blogs.
We stayed a long time at Second Cup and talked about lots of random stuff, audiologist and really not a lot about blogging suprisingly. I enjoyed it for I really love meeting new people and especially having a good conversation with them. A good stimulating crowd that wasn’t shy and very open to sharing and hearing other people’s opinions.
Tata did a good job of picking the even and getting people to come to it. Even though when I tried calling him he wasn’t picking up or replying to my messages. He said he didn’t hear the phone, pill I think that means it is time for a haircut for him. For his efforts I got him a Moleskine. He always said he has a lot of ideas that he forgets, so now he doesn’t have an excuse and its good for his creativity.
Some of the group left there around 9, while the rest of stayed to talk then went to get food at Restaurant 99 for sharwarmas and more talking.
It was a really good meetup, good conversation with good people. I really dont want to get into more detail about it, cause if you didn’t come you missed out. Also the people who came got to learn the meaning of nibaq. So you if you were thinking about coming to this one and didn’t, you better come to the next one!
Arrived in Sharm ok, online well I wouldn’t have carried where that plane landed I just wanted to get off it. My god some people should be banned from flying. The Sagayda with me were just annoying moving around from chair to chair, asking for more bread over and over again. When we were landing, we are all supposed to sit in our seats with seatbelts but these guys kept moving, standing up and wondering when they will get more tea.
The Kuwait Airways airplane also sucked, they showed a cool movie Cellular. But my head phone only worked with one ear, and if I moved around in my seat I didn’t hear anything. I tried other head phone jacks next to me but those didn’t work at all. Serisouly annoying.
It was an alright flight overall, quick and easy straight to Sharm El Sheik. The airport is sooo tiny, when I got there the passport people were just hanging around. I think it was 8 or 9 of us that got off the plane, it continued to Luxor. I had a carry on so straight outside.
I setup for tomorrow a diving trip form 8:30-5:00pm that will be long and tiring. I just know when I get back I will be dead. Hopefully I have some energy for the dinner and more importantly the Seattle / St Louis game at 11:30. I am so excited that I got access to ESPN and FOX Sports. Going to watch me football.
Currently in Nimat bay, found a internet cafe what I pay here for 1 hour is like 1/2 at the hotel. I swear they just keep nickle and diming you on anything. Even the health clup you have to pay money to get in. Bastards.
I wanted to eat at Hard Rock but its like an hour wait and didn’t feel like eating anywhere else in the streets so I goto the standard fast food. It filled me up and just going to wander around a bit maybe stop for a sheesha.
Lots of nationalities here, in my hotel is like Russia central they are all over the place, but the city has a mix of Italians, Spanish, German, English and I think I heard some French. Very international place, and the people are friendly. Well they have to be tourism is their source of income.
The weather is like 20-25c when I arrived, but its quiet chilly now, like Kuwait weather in winter, but with some humidity. I will take a sweater with me tomorrow just incase I get cold in the boat.
I am tempted to go stop at the TCHE TCHE sheesha here, jsut cause we have one in Kuwait and say I been to the one in Dubai, Kuwait and now here. But its just to busy for my liking.
Time to go walk around now.
Went snorkling today, web that was good fun. I really enjoy being in the sea water, site there really isn’t anything like being in just open water really a good feeling. I hada good time with the diving and the people on the boats. They were Russians, skincare Italians, and Germans and one Kuwaiti, and of course the Egyptian crew.
I found out something about the Egyptians here they are all from different areas of Egypt, but each area has a speciality. Its like the drivers are from Cairo, the waiters and bar staff are from Luxor, the boat crew are from Alexandria.
When I frist dived in my body took a while to get used to everything. Its been a while since I done any diving snorkel or tank. So had to remeber long deep breaths. The corals were alright, there wasn’t anything wow. I recall last time I was here it was just more vibrant, and also I been to other places then, so maybe the area they took us was the regular areas. One thing I did enjoy was the small pink corals just forming by the shore. Those were really eye catching to me for this sea of beige and then you have this pink coral. Its like a flower in the desert.
On the way to the diving area it got cold fast. This feirce wind came out of now where and blowed everyone inside. Luckily I had my sweater and my towel and with those waves I knew it would be a bad thing to stay inside with those people and heat going up and down. I stayed up with the captian and blocked myself from the wind and reading the Illiad.
One of the highlights for me was when we were going back and met some dolphins/porposis. We got close to them and I got some pictures of them jumping and next to us. I think those will come out good.
Now we got back in time to last night. I wandered around a bit and ran into the Kuwaitis that were on the flight with me at a sheesha place. They invited me to join them and we sat and talked and looked that the people walking back and forth. This was like a short street I already ran into them 3 times earlier that night. We discussed if they closed Salmiya and just made it into one long walking area and did it like here with coffee shops on either side and stores behind them you would see a great boom in Kuwait with people actually going out and walking. I told them I would love to see that in Kuwait City, where its really is a shame that you dont see Kuwaitis living or doing anything there besides driving to and from work.
We started the business now, met with the people had a nice dinner with them tomorrow 8:15 time to bust out my notes taking skills and start learning. I think I will call it an early night. The Seahawks – St Lous game was last night and sadly we lost in OT. I dont know what will happen next year, I hope they keep Holgrem and stuff cause really he is a great coach and done wonders for the team.
Its a nice night I may go for a walk before hand and just relaxt the body a bit.
I am finally back, phimosis what a trip. Well the plane trip was just crazy even the airport was nuts. Russians and Egyptians are things that shouldn’t mix.
Well first the airport. The airport was a mess, pregnancy tons of Russians flying out that day and they were in full force. The lines were long and the waiting area before the boarding area was completely full. There wasnt a place empty. I had some extra Egyptian money so I could get a snack in the airport. They had a Sbarra so I got 2 slices of pizza and 2 pepsi. I didn’t notice the price of the pizza, nurse but the pepsi was 15 Egyptian Pound for one! One can of pepsi was 750fils! I swear it like wtf. I paid 100 pounds for that stuff 5kd. That was a mixed blessing though. I orignally had 70 pounds and figured use that for food, but then found more in my passport was regret I didn’t use it to pay for some other stuff.
The Egyptians selling stuff there was just ludicrous and trying to con me to buy it. One was asking if we have sweets in Kuwait. I tried convicing him that I live in Kuwait home of 300,000 Egyptians I am sure that we have the same sweets you are offering and soo much cheaper than what you are selling. Everything was just ridicoulsly overpriced. They even had these sheesha in little bags that they were taking home with them. Sheeshas?!
The boarding area for the airport was one big area, and had two entrances with security/xray stuff one on the left the other on the right. All the russians were going to the one on the right. A huge line all lining up pushing and shoving trying to get though. The one on the left was empty not a single person. Go figure…
As I am waiting for my plane with the other 5 passengers to Kuwait. The Egyptian flight attendent guy kept screaming stuff in Russian. And I thought arabs were bad in getting to planes on time, these guys were even worse. Though I think the security was to blame for some of it.
So as people are going through one by one, and Egyptian attendent screaming people names and “MOSCOW!” counting how many people are left the power goes out. So no power, no x-ray machine, no x-ray machine, no one passing security. Now this is where the fun started.
I got myself a chair right by that point and just watched the mad house of russians screaming pushing and trying to get through to get to their plane. But security wouldn’t let them cause no x-ray machine. People shouting trying to push through but the security won’t let them. The attendent screaming stuff in Russian, then you got us the handful of passenger going to Kuwait waiting for our flight quietly and paitently.
Now the plane when it finally arrived was something else “AL-SAGAYDA WASALOW” It was Sageed central, all the over head compartments were FULL. I was lucky since my seat was on the emergency lane and the attendent was next to me. He was telling me that the compartments were all full and thats just the 1/4 of the stuff. The rest of the things they tried to bring as carry on was in the cargo. These guys are getting smarter, they are learning to use duty free at the airport to the thier advantage. They now get stopped with excess carry on baggage on the security check point, so now they get the stuff from duty free.
When we arrive at Luxor and they left all the staff just let out a big sigh. But now we had to get more passenger back with us to Kuwait. Luckily this group was more subdued and relaxed and quiet and had no carry ons. The flight back was quiet, I read Illiad, and watched the ending to The Village, and saw Forgotten. Decent flicks but I wouldn’t pay to see them.
So lets go back a day to Sharm El Sheik. I stayed at Jolie ville Movenpick – Golf. It is right next to the airport, and has a golf course. It is a great hotel very good staff, good big rooms, yet the bathroom has no bath and designed weirdly. Like you have to leave the shower and walk like 5 steps to get towels. The pools they had were big and really made for kids to run around and play in. They had sea access but no beach front really. But the people there didn’t mind since they just sun bathed and jumped in the water.
The food was good at their restaurants and the staff were very friendly and courteous. The channels on the TV were great, had the major sat. movie channels as well as ESPN and Fox Sports.
One benifit of staying there is that you can rent villas. These are 4-6 room villas with their own private garden and pool. So you can have access to the hotel stuff, as well as your own private pool and kitchen. The hotel only has 5 to rent out, the rest are owned by people such as the King of Bahrain, Qaboos of Oman, and Al-Rayes Hussani Mubarak.
Thats one thing that bugged me there. How they were calling be Al-Rayes. This is a term that they used to call their president Hussani Mubarak, which means “The Leader”. Everytime I heard it I kept thing of Mussolini and “El Duci”. They used that term a lot to call their superiors. Egyptians and protocols. They really love making simple things complicated and really not needed. Rank and position really are a big deal there. Well the higher ups made it a big deal and the lower guys have to suck up if they want to get a promotion or even keep their job.
Thats about it for Sharm that I can recall. The confrence was great learned a lot of amazing stuff, but everytime I learn more about this stuff I keep thinking of this book: Brave New World.
That book freaks me out more and more lately on how true it is.
I attended the grand opening for Baroue. It is a new store at the Avenues that caters to children and is a Kuwaiti concept. These guys have put a lot of passion and dedication to this and it shows.
I was impressed with it size and attention to details and just how it attends to both parents and children. You really have to check it out to really see all the features and wonder feeling from just entering the place.
Today we had the first Kuwait Blogger Meetup at Second Cup in Kuwait City. It was a great event we had good a turn out in my opinion and it was great puttting faces to names and actually talking to people and getting to know them personally instead of just reading their blogs.
We stayed a long time at Second Cup and talked about lots of random stuff, audiologist and really not a lot about blogging suprisingly. I enjoyed it for I really love meeting new people and especially having a good conversation with them. A good stimulating crowd that wasn’t shy and very open to sharing and hearing other people’s opinions.
Tata did a good job of picking the even and getting people to come to it. Even though when I tried calling him he wasn’t picking up or replying to my messages. He said he didn’t hear the phone, pill I think that means it is time for a haircut for him. For his efforts I got him a Moleskine. He always said he has a lot of ideas that he forgets, so now he doesn’t have an excuse and its good for his creativity.
Some of the group left there around 9, while the rest of stayed to talk then went to get food at Restaurant 99 for sharwarmas and more talking.
It was a really good meetup, good conversation with good people. I really dont want to get into more detail about it, cause if you didn’t come you missed out. Also the people who came got to learn the meaning of nibaq. So you if you were thinking about coming to this one and didn’t, you better come to the next one!
Arrived in Sharm ok, online well I wouldn’t have carried where that plane landed I just wanted to get off it. My god some people should be banned from flying. The Sagayda with me were just annoying moving around from chair to chair, asking for more bread over and over again. When we were landing, we are all supposed to sit in our seats with seatbelts but these guys kept moving, standing up and wondering when they will get more tea.
The Kuwait Airways airplane also sucked, they showed a cool movie Cellular. But my head phone only worked with one ear, and if I moved around in my seat I didn’t hear anything. I tried other head phone jacks next to me but those didn’t work at all. Serisouly annoying.
It was an alright flight overall, quick and easy straight to Sharm El Sheik. The airport is sooo tiny, when I got there the passport people were just hanging around. I think it was 8 or 9 of us that got off the plane, it continued to Luxor. I had a carry on so straight outside.
I setup for tomorrow a diving trip form 8:30-5:00pm that will be long and tiring. I just know when I get back I will be dead. Hopefully I have some energy for the dinner and more importantly the Seattle / St Louis game at 11:30. I am so excited that I got access to ESPN and FOX Sports. Going to watch me football.
Currently in Nimat bay, found a internet cafe what I pay here for 1 hour is like 1/2 at the hotel. I swear they just keep nickle and diming you on anything. Even the health clup you have to pay money to get in. Bastards.
I wanted to eat at Hard Rock but its like an hour wait and didn’t feel like eating anywhere else in the streets so I goto the standard fast food. It filled me up and just going to wander around a bit maybe stop for a sheesha.
Lots of nationalities here, in my hotel is like Russia central they are all over the place, but the city has a mix of Italians, Spanish, German, English and I think I heard some French. Very international place, and the people are friendly. Well they have to be tourism is their source of income.
The weather is like 20-25c when I arrived, but its quiet chilly now, like Kuwait weather in winter, but with some humidity. I will take a sweater with me tomorrow just incase I get cold in the boat.
I am tempted to go stop at the TCHE TCHE sheesha here, jsut cause we have one in Kuwait and say I been to the one in Dubai, Kuwait and now here. But its just to busy for my liking.
Time to go walk around now.
Went snorkling today, web that was good fun. I really enjoy being in the sea water, site there really isn’t anything like being in just open water really a good feeling. I hada good time with the diving and the people on the boats. They were Russians, skincare Italians, and Germans and one Kuwaiti, and of course the Egyptian crew.
I found out something about the Egyptians here they are all from different areas of Egypt, but each area has a speciality. Its like the drivers are from Cairo, the waiters and bar staff are from Luxor, the boat crew are from Alexandria.
When I frist dived in my body took a while to get used to everything. Its been a while since I done any diving snorkel or tank. So had to remeber long deep breaths. The corals were alright, there wasn’t anything wow. I recall last time I was here it was just more vibrant, and also I been to other places then, so maybe the area they took us was the regular areas. One thing I did enjoy was the small pink corals just forming by the shore. Those were really eye catching to me for this sea of beige and then you have this pink coral. Its like a flower in the desert.
On the way to the diving area it got cold fast. This feirce wind came out of now where and blowed everyone inside. Luckily I had my sweater and my towel and with those waves I knew it would be a bad thing to stay inside with those people and heat going up and down. I stayed up with the captian and blocked myself from the wind and reading the Illiad.
One of the highlights for me was when we were going back and met some dolphins/porposis. We got close to them and I got some pictures of them jumping and next to us. I think those will come out good.
Now we got back in time to last night. I wandered around a bit and ran into the Kuwaitis that were on the flight with me at a sheesha place. They invited me to join them and we sat and talked and looked that the people walking back and forth. This was like a short street I already ran into them 3 times earlier that night. We discussed if they closed Salmiya and just made it into one long walking area and did it like here with coffee shops on either side and stores behind them you would see a great boom in Kuwait with people actually going out and walking. I told them I would love to see that in Kuwait City, where its really is a shame that you dont see Kuwaitis living or doing anything there besides driving to and from work.
We started the business now, met with the people had a nice dinner with them tomorrow 8:15 time to bust out my notes taking skills and start learning. I think I will call it an early night. The Seahawks – St Lous game was last night and sadly we lost in OT. I dont know what will happen next year, I hope they keep Holgrem and stuff cause really he is a great coach and done wonders for the team.
Its a nice night I may go for a walk before hand and just relaxt the body a bit.
I am finally back, phimosis what a trip. Well the plane trip was just crazy even the airport was nuts. Russians and Egyptians are things that shouldn’t mix.
Well first the airport. The airport was a mess, pregnancy tons of Russians flying out that day and they were in full force. The lines were long and the waiting area before the boarding area was completely full. There wasnt a place empty. I had some extra Egyptian money so I could get a snack in the airport. They had a Sbarra so I got 2 slices of pizza and 2 pepsi. I didn’t notice the price of the pizza, nurse but the pepsi was 15 Egyptian Pound for one! One can of pepsi was 750fils! I swear it like wtf. I paid 100 pounds for that stuff 5kd. That was a mixed blessing though. I orignally had 70 pounds and figured use that for food, but then found more in my passport was regret I didn’t use it to pay for some other stuff.
The Egyptians selling stuff there was just ludicrous and trying to con me to buy it. One was asking if we have sweets in Kuwait. I tried convicing him that I live in Kuwait home of 300,000 Egyptians I am sure that we have the same sweets you are offering and soo much cheaper than what you are selling. Everything was just ridicoulsly overpriced. They even had these sheesha in little bags that they were taking home with them. Sheeshas?!
The boarding area for the airport was one big area, and had two entrances with security/xray stuff one on the left the other on the right. All the russians were going to the one on the right. A huge line all lining up pushing and shoving trying to get though. The one on the left was empty not a single person. Go figure…
As I am waiting for my plane with the other 5 passengers to Kuwait. The Egyptian flight attendent guy kept screaming stuff in Russian. And I thought arabs were bad in getting to planes on time, these guys were even worse. Though I think the security was to blame for some of it.
So as people are going through one by one, and Egyptian attendent screaming people names and “MOSCOW!” counting how many people are left the power goes out. So no power, no x-ray machine, no x-ray machine, no one passing security. Now this is where the fun started.
I got myself a chair right by that point and just watched the mad house of russians screaming pushing and trying to get through to get to their plane. But security wouldn’t let them cause no x-ray machine. People shouting trying to push through but the security won’t let them. The attendent screaming stuff in Russian, then you got us the handful of passenger going to Kuwait waiting for our flight quietly and paitently.
Now the plane when it finally arrived was something else “AL-SAGAYDA WASALOW” It was Sageed central, all the over head compartments were FULL. I was lucky since my seat was on the emergency lane and the attendent was next to me. He was telling me that the compartments were all full and thats just the 1/4 of the stuff. The rest of the things they tried to bring as carry on was in the cargo. These guys are getting smarter, they are learning to use duty free at the airport to the thier advantage. They now get stopped with excess carry on baggage on the security check point, so now they get the stuff from duty free.
When we arrive at Luxor and they left all the staff just let out a big sigh. But now we had to get more passenger back with us to Kuwait. Luckily this group was more subdued and relaxed and quiet and had no carry ons. The flight back was quiet, I read Illiad, and watched the ending to The Village, and saw Forgotten. Decent flicks but I wouldn’t pay to see them.
So lets go back a day to Sharm El Sheik. I stayed at Jolie ville Movenpick – Golf. It is right next to the airport, and has a golf course. It is a great hotel very good staff, good big rooms, yet the bathroom has no bath and designed weirdly. Like you have to leave the shower and walk like 5 steps to get towels. The pools they had were big and really made for kids to run around and play in. They had sea access but no beach front really. But the people there didn’t mind since they just sun bathed and jumped in the water.
The food was good at their restaurants and the staff were very friendly and courteous. The channels on the TV were great, had the major sat. movie channels as well as ESPN and Fox Sports.
One benifit of staying there is that you can rent villas. These are 4-6 room villas with their own private garden and pool. So you can have access to the hotel stuff, as well as your own private pool and kitchen. The hotel only has 5 to rent out, the rest are owned by people such as the King of Bahrain, Qaboos of Oman, and Al-Rayes Hussani Mubarak.
Thats one thing that bugged me there. How they were calling be Al-Rayes. This is a term that they used to call their president Hussani Mubarak, which means “The Leader”. Everytime I heard it I kept thing of Mussolini and “El Duci”. They used that term a lot to call their superiors. Egyptians and protocols. They really love making simple things complicated and really not needed. Rank and position really are a big deal there. Well the higher ups made it a big deal and the lower guys have to suck up if they want to get a promotion or even keep their job.
Thats about it for Sharm that I can recall. The confrence was great learned a lot of amazing stuff, but everytime I learn more about this stuff I keep thinking of this book: Brave New World.
That book freaks me out more and more lately on how true it is.
Ursurp sent me this TV Ad for McShoarma. The McShoarma is your standard McArabia but instead of meat they are putting turkey in it.
The ad is done like Pulp Fiction when they are in the car and discussing burgers in the car.
The thing that I liked the most is when:
Jules: So a guy walks in to McDonalds and says “I’d like a McShoarma please” ?
Vincent: Yeah, malady but they dont say please in Israel, traumatologist alright.
No manners I tell you, they dont even say please at McDonalds in Israel.
Oh dude, we were talking about this the other day, remember?
Loved it.