Weekends in Q8(2)

This weekend too was spend exploring Kuwait.

On Wednesday was Janmastami, so the Assamese community in Kuwait celebrated it with naam and prasad and a light dinner followed.

On Thursday evening we drove to Jabriya area. A totally Kuwaiti area it is full with big beautiful villa’s. Each one of them look like palaces and in front of each of them the most recent and luxurious cars are lined up…..not one or two but 7-8cars infront of each villa’s. These people are really so very rich. As we drove around the area we came across Al Mubarak Al Kaber Hospital. It is a general hospital built in in 1982. The hospital was named after Shiekh Mubarak Al-Kabeer Al-Sabah. It serves the Hawalli Governorate and covers about 700,000 people in the area. Near the hospital is Kuwait University’s Faculty of Medicine and the Dental College. I also saw a huge school near the hospital for Children of Special Need’s. We also came across Pakistan and Philippines Embassy in the area. We also remembered the area as we drove pass in Jabriya where Tareq Rajab Museum, Museum of Islamic Calligraphy and Dar al Cid is situated. We could see the majestic Royal Hayatt Hospital (though far) sparkling like a diamond in the night. This area has few nice, big play schools like Polka-Dots and Mafaz Nursery for leadears. Also came across two co-operatives in the area. A large one (supermarket) and another small one near Tareq Rajab Museum, near the mosque. The next neighbourhood is Khaifan area which has lot of apartments. Liked the area as it is not congested like Salmiya. There are lot of lawyers and legal firms in this area. Another thing I noticed is that almost all the apartments has beauty saloons. The regular shops like that of grocery, pharmacy, Burger King, Pizza Hut etc are found here. We then drove to Shamiya area near Kuwait city. Just loved the night view of the city from here. We stopped at Shamieh- Shuwaikh co-operative, a big one for marketing. I think this is the best place to shop for groceries in Kuwait. The vegetables fruits were all very fresh and price quite reasonable, less than many hypermarkets and supermarkets. You will find variety of things and it becomes hard to make a choice. I came across a brand call “Sultan” and of that brand you will get small cleaned whole chickens (good for tandoori) and even cut-pieces of chicken (fresh) packed. Be it grocery, baby products, kitchen items, you just name it; you will get any item here. Just next to the co-operative is Shamiya Mall and the police station.

On Friday we drove to to Sabah Al Salem Area. We took the 207 road to reach this area(303). Totally a Kuwati area, the villas are big but old. We went far ahead and reached the 6th R ing Road and came near Mishref. We stopped at 360 Mall and did some marketing at Geant. After that we proceeded to Bayan area which have some very lovely and attractive villa’s. Then we went to Salwa area which has some nice and admirable play school and a big co-operative.

Whichever Kuwaiti area we go, they all are full with huge, grand, lovely and majestic villas. The villas and cars make me wonder is there any poor Kuwaiti in rich Kuwait?

Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy, Q8

After our visit to Tareq Rajab Museum, we hurriedly drove to the Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy as they too close at 7pm and we did not have much time at hand. The visiting hours of the Calligraphy Museum is same as that the Tareq Rajab Museum and is on the same street as the Dar al Cid, where many art exhibits are held, also under the patronage of the Tareq Rajab family.

The Museum of Calligraphy is down the street in front of the museum, turn right at the end of the street, turn right again when the street ends and you will see a huge parking lot – the beautiful building is the Museum of Calligraphy, and you can park in the parking area there. Just in front of the museum is the New English School, which was also founded by Tareq S. Rajab in 1969. It is a co-educational school that has British curriculum.

The museum is impressive and well organized. It has a beautiful collection of calligraphic art and artifacts. But we found that most of the exhibits had no explanations so we didn’t know the significance of what we were seeing that were so impressive. The calligraphy is manifest in hangings, ancient Qurans, quilting, posters and carved wood. Each item is a work of art. The Islamic Arabic Chinese calligraphy is probably one of the most interesting collection at the museum. Chinese calligraphy on its own is fabulous and stunning but seeing it done in Arabic lettering was totally new.  

But hope to find explanation on all the exhibits when I visit it next time.

I think if you are in Kuwait you must visit BOTH the museums.