One of the worst nightmares could be when reality defies expectation. I had to experience one, when I got an oblique view of the country from the airplane, with lots of preconceived images in mind. What was in front of my eyes was a barren land embellished by fine sand and with no sign of inhabitants.
With wild thoughts running in my mind nudging me to catch the next flight back home, I was watching through the window with the glimpse of hope that the scene in front of my eyes will change. Struggling to accept reality, I was expecting the flight attendant to announce the arrival of Kuwait and it is my turn to jump down with my knapsack. The flight descended causing pain in my ear adding to the anguish caused by excessive rumination of my plight. The feeling was much more than a tad disappointment.
The flight landed connoting that the supposedly highflying career of mine is headed to plummet. As the flight touched the tarmac, I could witness flights with ?US Army? written on them sending a chill in my spine.
This being the first overseas destination I am visiting, I had no idea on the immigration procedure and was just waiting to follow the masses path.
I was walking listening to some announcement being made in Arabic, with thoughts about the condition of my baggage which was overstuffed, a sign of love of my relatives. With a sigh of relief to see my baggage in carrying condition, I was sent to the crossroads to decide which herd to follow, I realized that people were taking two different paths. Heeding to the imbecilic forces, I chose to follow the group that had more number of good-looking lasses.
I just ambled along with eyes capturing all that it could glean of the flashy stores and advertisements, eventually leading me to a queue. Presaging all the eventualities I prepared myself with passport and copies of the visa and other documents waiting for my turn. I had to confront a guy who stuttered in English to give my tickets and passport. When I gave him the documents he wore an irritated look and snapped his finger on one direction.
Just when I was looking at that direction musingly, I was told by a white skinned man that this is a queue for those in transit to London. I just trotted towards that direction with no one to lead. As I approached near I was satisfied to see a queue with people who I remembered had traveled with me. This time too it was a guy on the other end, with a xenophobic look. Every one headed towards the exit, while I was directed to a bunch of burqua-clad women, because I just had a photocopy of the visa and the messenger who is to pick me up was suppose to remit the original.
As I approached the women, one of them glanced my name and politely asked me to wait. I sat for a little more than half hour with impatience insinuating and my mom calling on my mobile every other minute to find out what is happening with me. I had a very little balance in my mobile, the call being on international roaming and with lots of things running in my mind, one could understand how comfortable I made my mom who was conspicuously worried. I made a call to the HR department of my prospective employer and realized that the office isn?t open in the wee hours. Seeing my growing impatience one of the corpulent women took pity and accosted me and asked my name. She rummaged through the scattered documents and I was delighted to see my visa, which was foisted, when I was waiting. I got through the immigration check, with a great sigh of relief.
I headed to the exit wasting no time and was enraptured to see my name in one of the placard. I was greeted by the guy asking me ? where you sleeping inside??
With a nightmarish first impression here I go, giving you a glimpse of Kuwait.
Kuwait is just a blip in the world map, affluent with oil, supplying to one tenth of world?s oil consumption. The country?s population is a trifling 2.2 million with expatriates dominating the percentage. The oil-induced sloth is the reason for the disproportionate ratio The Egyptians, Indians and Filipino?s constitute major share of the expatriate population. While a few Indians hold strategic positions in companies or perform a duty that warrants technical expertise, the masses work as housemaid or cheap labor or in administrative jobs. A tax-free salary and duty free goods are the benefits that accrue to the expat community.
The affluence can be witnessed from roads, which are broad, and neatly maintained with cars like Mercedes, Cadillac, BMW seen in every other road. Vehicles travel on the right hand side cruising at speeds ranging from 80 ?180 Kms per hour breaching the maximum limit of 120 Km per hour. Brands like Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubhishi are ubiquitous
The main contributors to the GDP are oil, investments out of Oil returns and trading. As the place is devoid of natural resources other than oil, everything is imported from pin to aeroplane. The major supplier of perishables is from the bonhomous neighbor Saudi Arabia while other things are imported from places where they are best. Being the home for opulent citizen and the proletariats, the place offers the best for all the classes. The best of best things, like Swiss chocolates, brands like Gucci, Versace and et all meet the needs of high-end people and equal choices are given to the bourgeois class.
The next most important thing is the entertainment for the people. If you are a person who hangs out in a pub every weekend, then survival in Kuwait could be as agonizing as a fish out of water. Even uttering the word alcohol or liquor is a taboo in Kuwait. Added to the list of taboos is pornography and prostitution. If your are carrying a bottle of champagne please gulp, all in one swig before you land and if you are carrying any pornographic stuff, please draw its attention to inviting dust bin, unless you have the audacity to face any dire consequences. Just as people derive pleasure by infraction of law right from Adam and Eve days, all the taboos are very much prevalent and there is a tacit approval from the law protectors.
One of the main sources of entertainment for Kuwaitis being the Diwaniya, where people meet and discuss any topics ranging from entertainment to US politics. The concept of annual vacation is a must and the Kuwaitis travel to Europe or US during the peak summer time. A house/flat in Spain or London is very common among the local citizens.
The main sources of entertainment for the expatriates are window-shopping of fancy malls, a cool drive on the roads if you have a car or glued to the TV, watching Indian channels provided by the local illegal cable system. The Indian community is dominated by the Malayalis, Goan/Manglorean Christians. People of these communities have various associations, a time killer on the weekends. Starbucks and Costa coffee offer a solace for those who miss the pub scene.
A visit to Ice-skating rink, Parks, Kuwait towers, oldest mosque, a drive to the desert/ beach with a friend who knows about the place a little better, will assist to satiate the initial inquisitiveness and to combat boredom.
A pro US country, trying to synergies and adopt from the policies of the neighbor, as a sign of camaraderie and plagiarizing the policies of US, battling its way to be the 51st state of US.
This place is an El Dorado to the local citizens, who get the best of everything and to the aggrandizing expat who is risk averse and wants to work in sinecure.
If you want to choose Kuwait as a tourist destination, think again there are better places in the Middle East.
Am not sure whether I have given enough insights, would be great if you could drop in your comments.
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