Welcome to Kuwait

I know what you're thinking. Why Kuwait?

I have my reasons. My best friend lives in Kuwait for the time being and the unique opportunity presented itself to see Kuwait through a local's eyes. She is half Kuwaiti. So how could I say no. It was too good to pass up.

I must admit, prior to coming here I had my preconceived notions about the place. Is it a bomb? Is it the pits? And to be fair, the only reason I thought these things is because everyone in Dubai said it was a hole with no alcohol. Yes it is illegal.

But I thought how bad could it be? One of my best friends has been living here for two years. But then again, she really does hate the country. And yes she told me this after I bought my ticket to Kuwait, the clever thing.

Within the first five minutes of being here, Hanna and I are driving out of the airport. Some random guy in another car makes eyes at me, and he makes a distinctive eyebrow lift which is accompanied with a cheeky smile.

Confused, I ask Hanna.

"Some guy did a funny eye thing at me. Why did he do that for?"
"Like how?" So I made eyes at her, did the whole she-bang, just as he did to me.
 She laughed and said.
"He wants your number, just look straight ahead and avoid eye contact or he might follow us".

And it wasn't too long after that Hanna had to slam the brakes to avoid a collision in the middle of an intersection. There were a couple of guys doing donuts in the middle of it. The car had no wheels and sparks were flying left, right and centre. They were going round and round in circles blasting their music over the deafening screeches of their so-called wheels. Traffic was everywhere.

It's only been my first hour here. Kuwait is nucking futs and already, I'm in love.

Welcome to Kuwait.

Welcome to Dubai

When I think about Dubai it is kind of a weird place. Its Arab meets West with a touch of Vegas containing a thriving ex-pat community and a tourist hub that glues it all together. There’s no place quite like it.

You come here to party, shop, beach and eat.

You have a clash of Arabic and Western culture, where the consumption of alcohol is illegal except when you hold a liquor license. Either that, or you hop into a club or a hotel that has one. As a woman, you should dress modestly but when you are out in the clubs, all rules are out. Oh and let’s not forget the beaches where you can wear bikinis in full view of the public. Contradict much?

And you don’t want to get yourself too drunk. Arrests can occur for unruly public behaviour. I met this lady on my flight to London years ago whilst stretching my legs. Her husband was a Doctor in Dubai and she told me of a patient that her husband had come across.

This gentleman was incredibly drunk one night. He was doing nothing to hide it and was arrested. He was taken to prison that was located in the middle of nowhere , out in the desert. He was left there in the blistering prison cell with no water. He was extremely dehydrated and began violently convulsing. Prison guards didn’t know what to do with him, so left him. The situation didn’t improve so they decided to take him to the hospital, which was a few hours drive back into Dubai. By the time they got to the hospital it was too late. They treated him and now he is paralysed because they couldn’t get to him in time.

True story.

And the thing about Dubai is, it is very easy to forget where you are. That you are in a Muslim country. Myself included. I just got away with it. Girls that we met one night told us that they potentially got arrested because they had a couple of guys head back to their hotel to kick on for drinks. Clubs close at 3pm and they didn’t want the night to end. So they went back to the hotel room to get stuck into their duty free alcohol, (the only place you can purchase alcohol in Dubai) only to have reception call them and demand for their passport, lecturing them that they are not allowed visitors into the hotel and that this is a Muslim country. That this is not the custom nor the right way. Their visitors were personally escorted out by security.

Also, a true story.

But I can perfectly understand why these things happen. When the lines are blurred and filled with shades of grey, you are bound to get tourists falling outside the social decorous expected of them.

And I've been told, you can do whatever you want in Dubai, just don't get caught doing it. Doing what? Right? :)

Dubai is like one big party and everybody threw up. 

And those are always the best parties.

Welcome to Dubai.

Hello World

Up, up and away again...


So I've finally decided to quit my job and leave the corporate world to embark on another world tour again. Every time I do this I go through the motions of being excited and extremely nervous. More nervous if anything. And why is that? I've done this before, time and time again but something about it always scares the shit out of me. But you know what they say, you should do something everyday that scares you. So here I am, the self-masochist, exploring the world and scaring the bejeezus out of myself each and everyday for a good four months. 


I've packed my bags, finished all the loose ends at work, shit - I even worked the Saturday, the day after my last day, hungover and in the same farewell clothes. And for some reason, everyone decided to work the weekend too so they all bore witness to my dirty self. Classic.

At this point I am sitting on the plane and it hasn't really hit me that I've left it all behind and nor does it when I am in Dubai Airport. Just seems like I am at an airport. 


Despite it all, I remind myself, what are you nervous about? You LOVE travelling. You have four months to indulge in all of life's pleasures. That's the plan. I will get the chance to meet, see, taste and smell so many exotic things about the world and I just can't flipping wait. 


So here my journey begins.


Welcome to my confessions.