Kuwait City

 Kuwait is my new home for the next two and half months, while doing my Navy deployment at Camp Airifjan.  Today is my first opportunity to explore the sights and sounds of Kuwait beyond the base. I am revved. I will feel like an adventure is lost if I don’t get the opportunity to explore the city.  Getting off of the base is no easy task and shouldn’t be taken for granted. It is quite the privledge.

Our destination is the Grand Mosque and Avenues mall, of course I am on the lookout for anything else that might be of interest.  Kuwait has established itself as one of the richest countries of the world, so it was no surprise that downtown is home of the Kuwait Stock Exchange. Kuwait Stock Exchange is among the first and largest exchanges in the Persian Gulf. 

I took pleasure in capturing the the billboards because they symboize more than tourism, they represent culture.

 

The Grand Mosque was certainly worth rising early for. We were immedialty greeted by our host who ushered the woman into the dressing room to to change into our  burqas. The Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in Kuwait, comprising 45,000 meters. Each room is elegantly decorated.  The main prayer room is decorated in blue and brown, symbolizing the desert by the sea.  Guides were pleasant and  encouraged picture taking. There is ony  one rule regaring pictures. It is not appropriate for friends of the opposite sex to have their picture taken together. I was unaware of this, which caused a cultural blunder, but the guide was kind and din’t call attention to my faux pas.  After an indepth tour guests are invited to partake of  tea and biscuits. Visiting the Grand Mosque was truly an opportunity to not only visit the a monumental piece of Kuwait history, but to take part in a meaningful cultural experience.  Appointements are necessary to tour the interior of the mosque. 

 After a fun and l enriching experience, we headed to the Avenues Mall. The first thing on most everyones mind is where are we going to eat? The mall is  largest mall in Kuwiat. There isn’t a shortage on food and fine shopping.  Some of the best designer fashions can be found at the Avenues, but they hold a signicant price tag .The KD (Kuwiat Dinar) is the currency of Kuwait  

I am looking forward to sharing in other MWR trips while in Kuwait. A few other places I hope to be able to explore are Kuwait Towers and a souk.